NO WORDS CAN GIVE COMFORT AT THIS TIME...

Appeal for witnesses after car deaths of driver & three friends going to Leaving Cert party

- PAT FLANAGAN

THE town of Clonmel was plunged into grief after a horror crash killed three teens and their young driver on their way to celebrate their Leaving Cert results.

Grace McSweeney, Nicole Murphy and Zoey Coffey, all aged 18, were killed instantly when the car driven by Grace's brother Luke, 24, left the road and overturned.

All four were pronounced dead at the scene and no other vehicle was involved in the tragedy which took place at 7.30pm on Friday in the Co Tipperary town.

The trio of pals had just received the results of their Leaving Certificate exams hours earlier in the day and Luke volunteered to drive them to the party. The crash took place near the Loreto school where Nicole had been a student.

Superintendent Kieran Ruane praised the emergency services and garda for their efforts at what he described as a "very difficult" scene in heavy rain.

He said: "I want to acknowledge and express my gratitude to my colleagues in An Garda Siochana and the other emergency services who attended the  scene last night. The scene was very difficult, in very adverse weather conditions and the professionalism shown by all first responders and the care and respect shown to the four deceased was exemplary.

He said liaison officers had been appointed to each of the families and An Garda Siochana's focus is the preparation of an investigation file for the coroner.