The town of Clones, Co. Monaghan, Ireland, was left heartbroken after Kiea McCann, 17, and her best friend Dlava Mohammed, 16, were killed back on July 31, 2023, while traveling to their school prom. Three others were also in the car that night.
Just hours before the crash, the girls posed for photos — Kiea in a red gown before celebration balloons, and Dlava in a pale blue dress, smiling softly. Their families later shared the pictures in grief, remembering their bond and vibrant spirits.
Kiea’s father, Frankie McCann, recalled the excitement in their home before the celebration. “We had food and champagne and balloons — it was going to be a great night,” he told the Irish Independent. That joy would soon turn to tragedy.
According to reports, the girls were passengers in a car driven by 61-year-old Anthony McGinn, a family friend. Witnesses said McGinn was speeding at nearly twice the 50 mph limit and ignored repeated pleas from the teenagers to slow down.
Survivor Oisin Clerkin, Kiea’s prom date, said, “He was driving really fast and it scared me. None of the girls said anything. Kiea looked scared. I said goodbye to Kiea — then I woke up in hospital.”
McGinn later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and serious injury to Dlava’s sister, Avin Mohammed. He was sentenced and banned from driving for 15 years.
The court heard that Kiea’s father arrived at the crash scene and desperately performed CPR, but both girls had already passed away. Their mother, Teresa, said through tears, “They were put side by side holding hands as we lay beside them.”
The loss of Kiea and Dlava — inseparable best friends — has left a lasting scar on their families and community, who continue to honor their memory with love and sorrow.
