College 'devastated' as five past pupils involved in Athy crash
A college that the four Kildare crash victims had attended has said it is "devastated at the loss of four beautiful young girls."
A fifth girl, who was the driver of the car and is injured in hospital, also attended the college.
Saint Leo’s College in Carlow issued a statement today following the road traffic accident near Athy, which killed four of its past pupils and injured another.
The four young women were Aisling Middleton (19) from Coney Meadows, Coneyboro, Athy, Co. Kildare; Chermaine Carroll (20), Dolmen Heights, Pollerton, Carlow; Niamh Doyle (19) from Mount Leinster Park, Carlow Town and Gemma Nolan (19) from Idrone Park, Tullow Road in Carlow Town.
They were killed in the crash between a car and van near Athy shortly before 10pm last night.
Gardaí said the four women were passengers in the car.
Three others - the driver of the car and two men travelling in the van - were seriously hurt in the crash, and are being treated at Naas General Hospital.
The statement from Saint Leo’s College in Carlow said: "It is with great sadness that we learned of the tragic accident involving five of our past pupils. The staff and students of Saint Leo’s College are devastated at the loss of four beautiful young girls.
"We extend our heartfelt sympathies to their families and friends at this awful time. May their gentle souls rest in peace.
"We pray for their friend who was injured in last night’s crash and ask God to extend his healing grace to her. We also think of the driver and passenger in the van and ask God to be with them and their families."
Dr Patricia Mulcahy, President of IT Carlow also issued a statement on behalf of the college where the injured driver of the car involved in the crash attended.
She said: "The staff and students at IT Carlow are shocked and saddened to hear about the fatal car accident last night in which four young women were killed and three others were injured. This is having a devastating impact on the whole community of Carlow including ourselves in the Institute.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and friends affected by this tragedy. We pray for the recovery of Dayna Kearney, the young woman who was injured in the accident, who is a student of this Institute."
Catherine O'Sullivan, course programme director at St Patrick’s College in Carlow, where Gemma Nolan was attending as a second year student, told Beat 102-103 support services are available at the college.
Gardaí are appealing for anyone who witnessed the accident to contact them Athy Station.
The road has since reopened.
