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Two teenage girls – aged 16 and 17 – have been killed in a crash in County Monaghan.<\/p>\n
It happened on the N54 road between Clones and Smithborough at about 18:45 on Monday.<\/p>\n
Three other people have been taken to hospital.<\/p>\n
Two of them – an 18-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man – are in a critical condition.<\/p>\n
An 18-year-old man is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. <\/p>\n
All of the victims were travelling in the same car.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
It is understood the young people were on their way to a secondary school debs ball.<\/p>\n
Garda\u00ed said the N54 between Legnakelly Cross and Smithborough would remain closed overnight.<\/p>\n
They advised morning commuters to take an alternative route.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
“Every family’s worst nightmare. My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved.”<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in TD Matt Carthy said it was “horrendous, heart-wrenching news”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n