Rachel Battles, her friend Mairead Munday and her mum Margaret McGonigle tragically died in the crash
THESE are the three women who died in a three-car crash this morning were a mother and daughter and a family friend returning to Donegal from a dream holiday together.
The victims have been named locally as 69-year-old Margaret McGonigle, her daughter Mairead Mundy and her best friend Rachel Battles.
They were all on their way home to the village of Bruckless just outside Killybegs from Dublin Airport after a holiday abroad.
The crash happened south of Aclint Bridge on the Louth/Monaghan border at about 1am.
The 39-year-old driver and two passengers, aged 37 and 69, in one of the cars were killed.
A six-year-old girl and a 31-year-old man were seriously injured in the crash and were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
It is understood the three women who died and one of the people injured were travelling in the same car.
The occupants of the third car involved were not seriously injured.
Fr Jim Sweeney said the deaths were shocking for everyone in the community.
“Everybody is devastated,” said the parish priest of Bruckless.
Superintendent Fergus Treanor from Ardee Garda Station said weather conditions were very bad when he arrived at the scene last night.
An ambulance which happened to be passing by helped in the emergency efforts, he added.
The N2 between Ardee and Aclint Bridge will remain closed for the day and major traffic diversions are in place.
Gardaí say motorists using the M1 should divert at junction 17 for Castleblayney and should avoid the area of the crash if possible.
Any witnesses are asked to contact Ardee Garda Station on 041-6871130, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111 or any garda station.
The scene of this morning’s crash is close to where two women were killed in January as they disembarked from a bus on the northbound lane of the road and were hit by a car on the southbound lane outside the Hunterstown Inn.
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