UNITED IN GRIEF

Tears & tributes to young lives cut short. Clonmel 'left numbed and speechless' by tragedy

- MICHAEL O’TOOLE

CLONMEL came to a standstill last night as thousands of people mounted a heartbreaking vigil for the town’s four lost angels.

There were emotional scenes as dozens of people broke down in tears at the end of the event for Luke and Grace McSweeney, Zoey Coffey and Nicole Murphy.

“None of us will ever get over their deaths,” Fr Michael Toomey told the crowd, estimated to be up to 3,000 strong.

For Toomey, who is also a chaplain to the high school where Grace and Zoey studied, also told the crowd the entire town was devastated by the disaster when the four young people lost their lives on Friday.

It happened as Luke, 24, was driving the three 18-year-olds to get a bus so they could celebrate their Leaving Cert results. He said: “I don’t know what to say. It’s a phrase we have used in the last 48 hours.

“It’s what I told Zoey and Nicole’s mams on Friday night.

“There are occasions in life when no words actually seem appropriate.

“We enter total sadness and desolation, and we’re numbed and speechless.

“For some it’s still not hit us that Luke and Grace, Nicole and Zoey have died.

“It doesn’t make sense. Why? Why them? The question we will sadly never get the answer to.” The vigil took place in Kickham Plaza - fewer than 48 hours after the tragedy.