Updated: 5.20pm
Funerals are taking place for two teenage best friends who were killed after the car they were travelling in crashed while on the way to their debs.
Kiea McCann (17) and Dlava Mohamed (16) died when the car they were travelling in left the road and crashed into a tree just outside Clones, Co Monaghan, on Monday.
They were on the way to their school’s debs when the crash happened.
A funeral mass for Kiea was held at the Sacred Heart Chapel in Clones before her burial in Mount St Oliver’s Cemetery.
A large crowd of mourners walked behind the cortege from Kiea’s home to the church ahead of the service.
The principal of the teenagers’ secondary school said the girls had been “best friends” since Dlava’s family arrived in Clones as part of a resettlement programme for Syrians.
Largy College principal Sharon Magennis described Dlava, who had just completed her Junior Cert exam, as “always very happy” and “bubbly”, and Kiea as “pleasant and courteous” and who had hoped to go on to study childcare.
In a mark of respect and support, hundreds of people formed guards of honour in Clones as the two teenagers’ remains were taken back to their family homes in recent days.
On Thursday afternoon, students from Largy College and principal Sharon Magennis were among mourners who lined the steps of the church in Clones, while motorcycles revved in tribute to the racing fan ahead of the arrival of the hearse topped with floral tributes.
Many among Kiea’s family and loved ones wore light blue T-shirts – bearing a photograph of the teenager wearing her red formal dress – as they walked behind the hearse.
Representatives for President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar joined the local community in the pews, as well as the Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher Ian Ellis
There was a pause for silence for those who were injured in the crash.
Father John Chester said the deaths of the teenagers “shocked and saddened the nation”.
Fr Chester spoke of Kiea's father Frankie's frantic actions as he arrived at the scene of the crash and performed CPR on his daughter and her “soul friend” Dlava.
“The hands of the two girls touching as though they knew they were off to heaven together,” Fr Chester said.
“No father should have to witness such a terrible scene.”
Delivering his homily, Fr Chester said Kiea had been looking forward to a career in child care.
He said many had been reflecting on how popular Kiea was among her friends.
“She had a great sense of humour, pleasantly mischievous and innocent,” he told mourners.
“She, like her peers, was rarely off the iPhone keeping in touch. She kicked football with her close circle of friends, played pool, enjoyed music and the weekend discos.
“Kiea was kind, whole-hearted, genuine. She respected others irrespective of race and creed.”
Fr Chester said the two girls would have been “most proud” of how the “deeply united” community in Clones had come together, with streets lined by people paying their respects.
“Family was hugely important to Kiea, she was a very family oriented girl who was everybody’s favourite, and our hearts are broken, not only for Kiea and Dlava, but for all of those left behind after this terrible tragedy,” he added.
The priest went on to pay tribute to Dlava as a “gorgeous soul who radiated goodness”.
“The college community is heartbroken. It is a tragedy that, along with their families, the management, staff and fellow students, will not get to see these amazing young women express the full potential of their kind spirits and abundance of gifts,” he said.
Following the service, mourners carried single white roses as they followed the hearse to Mount St Oliver’s Cemetery where Kiea was laid to rest.
Meanwhile, a prayer service for Dlava was held at the Clonskeagh Mosque and Cultural Centre in Dublin, before her burial in Newcastle Muslim Cemetery.
A hearse carrying Dlava’s remains in a white coffin left the family home in Clones early on Thursday for the two-hour journey to the mosque.
A coach transporting family and friends of the teenager followed the cortege to Dublin.
When it arrived, her body was washed and shrouded according to Islamic tradition in five pieces of white cloth.
Her family then spent time with her in private until the funeral prayer, which began shortly before 2pm.
Students from Largy College, family members and deputy principal of Largy College Michael Killen were among the hundreds of mourners who attended the public service.
The coffin was placed at the top of the prayer hall as mourners expressed their sympathies to Dlava’s father and brother.
Sheikh Hussein Halawa said her death “shook” the Muslim community and the people of Ireland.
He added: “I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the father, mother and all family members”.
The service followed solemn scenes in Clones on Wednesday, when hundreds of people formed a guard of honour in Clones for Dlava.
After Thursday’s ceremony, Dr Ali Selim, a senior member of staff at the Islamic Cultural Centre, said the tragedy had shocked the Muslim community across Ireland.
“It’s a very sad day, especially when you think of the circumstances of the (Mohamed) family,” he said.
“They ran away from Syria because they didn’t feel safe, looking for protection, and unfortunately the place where they thought they would be safe, they were hit with this tragedy.
“It’s shocking for the community. I’d like to offer our sincere condolences to the whole family and the friends as well.
“The family members at this moment, they are unaware of the real sadness that they are going to face because there are a lot of people around them, but I believe by the time they’re sitting around the table, and she’s not there for dinner, or when they go in her room, and she’s not in her room, that’s the time when they feel it and that’s the time when they need support from everybody.”
Students from Largy College formed a guard of honour as her coffin was carried from the Islamic Cultural Centre for burial.
Three other occupants of the car were also injured after the vehicle veered off the N54 and into a tree, just outside Clones, on Monday at 6.45pm.
An 18-year-old woman is in a critical but stable condition at Cavan General Hospital, while a 60-year-old man is in a critical condition at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.
An 18-year-old man also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
