Anthony McGinn, 61, is set to be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to dangerous driving that led to the deaths of best friends Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohamed, 16.
The survivor of a car crash that killed her sister has said that she “cannot shake” the guilt of her death after she invited her out on the fateful night.
Anthony McGinn, 61, was put in a “position of trust” to drive best friends Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohamed, 16, as well as her sister, Avin, to a school ball in Monaghan Town, Ireland. However, McGinn drove at more than 90mph in a 50mph zone on a wet road and crashed into a tree on a section of the N54 at Legnakelly. The accident killed Keia and Dlava, and seriously injured Avin.
Dlava’s sister Avin – who suffered severe injuries in the crash – said the crash changed her life forever. She said: “My sister came with me as I had no-one else to come.
READ MORE: Teen best friends die ‘hand in hand’ on roadside after driver ignores pleas to slow down
“Anthony began speeding. I remember I got angry and told him to stop. Then everything went black.
“My family couldn’t tell me. It broke me. I lost my sister and best friend.
“I had to build my entire life from scratch and I will never be whole again. I am carrying the guilt I cannot shake because I asked my sister to come along. If only I went alone.”
The Irish Mirror reported McGinn will be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm.
Monaghan Circuit Court was shown dashcam footage from a vehicle travelling behind of the moment of the accident. Distraught family and friends let out gasps and became visibly upset and left the courtroom for a time.
Inspector Lardner told the court that McGinn was arrested in December 2023. During Garda interviews, McGinn said he didn’t remember overtaking another vehicle and was unsure if he had been speeding. When shown the dashcam footage, he said: “I wouldn’t have a clue how fast I was going. Jesus, I have no answer. I see my car sliding. I don’t know what speed I was doing.”
Victim impact statements read out by Inspector Lardner revealed the depth of the families’ grief. Dlava’s father, Mohammed, said his daughter was “a piece of his heart” and that he would carry the pain of her loss forever.
Oisin Clerkin, who was a front seat passenger, told Gardaí: “All I know is he was speeding and playing music. I told him to slow down. He didn’t reply. He was driving really fast and it scared me. None of the girls said anything. Kiea looked scared. I said ‘Goodbye’ to Kiea and I woke up in hospital.”
Kiea’s mother, Teresa, said she had trusted McGinn to bring her daughter safely to her Debs ball. “When we got to the scene, Kiea was already gone. Her dad tried CPR on her. Nothing would bring her back,” she said.
“Kiea and her best friend were robbed of their lives. They were put side by side holding hands on the grass as me and my husband lay beside them.” She added that Kiea’s 18th birthday present ended up being her headstone.
McGinn’s barrister, Breffni Gordon, said his client had entered an early guilty plea, suffered serious injuries in the crash, expressed genuine remorse, and formally apologised to the victims’ families.
Judge John Aylmer adjourned sentencing until Wednesday, May 14 at 10am.