Two teenage girls – aged 16 and 17 – have been killed in a crash in County Monaghan.
It happened on the N54 road between Clones and Smithborough at about 18:45 on Monday.
Three other people have been taken to hospital.
Two of them – an 18-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man – are in a critical condition.
An 18-year-old man is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
All of the victims were travelling in the same car.
The 60-year-old man, who was the driver, is being treated in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and the others were taken to Cavan General Hospital.
It is understood the young people were on their way to a secondary school debs ball.
Gardaí said the N54 between Legnakelly Cross and Smithborough would remain closed overnight.
They advised morning commuters to take an alternative route.
Fine Gael TD (member of the Irish parliament) for Cavan-Monaghan, Heather Humphreys, tweeted that it was “heartbreaking news for our local community in the Clones area this evening.
“Every family’s worst nightmare. My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved.”
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy said it was “horrendous, heart-wrenching news”.
