New Year’s Eve tragedy claims three young lives

THREE teenage boys died on New Year’s Eve in a horror car crash that has left two other teenagers fighting for their lives.

The teenagers who died were Stuart Donnellan, aged 14, from Cormack Drive, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, Padraic Bourke, 16, of Silvermines and Adrian O’Brien, 17, of Newtown, Nenagh.

They died when the Opel Corsa they were travelling in struck a tree at Kilboy, Dolla, Co Tipperary, at 7.30pm.

All three were passengers in the car, which was driven by 16-year-old Thomas Clarke, also from Silvermines, who remains in a critical condition in the Mid-Western General Hospital in Limerick.

A teenage girl, Kelsey Tiernan, 15, from Portroe, is also in a critical condition after sustaining serious injuries in the crash.

All five friends were travelling from Nenagh to Silvermines when the crash occurred.

The road where the crash happened remained closed yesterday as a Garda forensic team carried out a detailed examination at the scene.

The scene of the crash is on a dangerous dip in the road and opposite a gate to Kilboy House, the former home of the late Ryanair founder, Tony Ryan.

The car is believed to have veered across the road and struck a tree head-on. The bend is known locally as a black spot for accidents, particularly in icy weather, and a number of accidents have occurred there in recent years.

It is unclear whether any of the five teenagers were wearing seatbelts.

Silvermines parish priest Fr Brendan Moloney described the accident as a “major tragedy which has touched the lives of so many communities and parishes in north Tipperary.

“The loss of so many young lives is a major tragedy, especially at this time of year. Our deepest sympathies are with the families affected by this awful tragedy”.