Anthony McGinn, 61, had earlier pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after the Co Monaghan crash killed best pals Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohamed, 16, on the way to their school formal
A man who killed two best friends on their way to a school ball after speeding at more than twice the limit and smashing his car into a tree has been jailed for seven years.
Anthony McGinn, 61, was put in a “position of trust” to drive best pals Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohamed, 16, to the event in Monaghan Town, Ireland, in July 2023 when the horror unfolded. The teenagers tragically died side-by-side while Dlava’s sister – who had joined them on the ride – was left seriously injured.
McGinn pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm earlier this year. Monaghan Circuit Court was shown dashcam footage from a vehicle travelling behind him as distraught family and friends let out gasps and became visibly upset and left the courtroom for a time.
Inspector Lardner said McGinn was arrested in December 2023. In a memo of interviews, he said he didn’t remember overtaking a vehicle and didn’t know if he was speeding. When the dashcam was shown to him by Inspector Lardner, McGinn said: “I wouldn’t have a clue how fast I was going. Jesus, I have no answer.”
In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Kiea’s mum Teresa told how she had put her trust in McGinn to take her daughter to the leaver’s ball. She said: “When we got to the scene, Kiea was already gone. Her dad tried CPR on her. Nothing would bring her back. 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.”
The court was previoulsy told family friend McGinn had picked up the group from a pub in town before heading to the event. Front seat passenger Oisin Clerkin asked McGinn to “slow down” but he did not respond. Oisin later told police: “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.”
McGinn was found to have sped his car at more than 90mph in a 50mph zone on a wet road before crashing into a tree on a section of the N54 at Legnakelly.
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