Funeral arrangements confirmed for tragic Donegal teens

THE TWO Donegal teenagers killed in a horror road traffic crash in the early hours of Monday will be laid to rest on Friday.

Separate funerals will take place for 18-year-olds Alana Harkin and Thomas Gallagher, who tragically lost their lives in the single-vehicle collision at Terrawee, Gleneely, Co. Donegal

Alana, late of Falmore, Gleneely, will be laid to rest following Funeral Mass at 11am in St Mary’s Church, Bocan, Culdaff.

Many of the same mourners will attend the Funeral Mass of Thomas, late of Gemstone, Gleneely. Thomas’ funeral will take place at 2pm in St. Mary's Church, Ballybrack, Moville.

On Tuesday afternoon, the remains of Alana and Thomas were removed from the Eternal Light Chapel of Rest in Letterkenny and returned to their heartbroken families. People straddled the roadsides as the hearses carrying the teenage pals snaked their way through the Inishowen peninsula.

The Seat Ibiza car in which they were traveling crashed 12.30am on Monday.

A third male teenager was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital for non-life threatening injuries and a fourth person, a young woman, was only just dropped off at her home in the Glengad area minutes before the crash.

Thomas’ mother, Helen, remembered her ‘darling son’ as ‘the light in every room’. “His loss has forever changed our lives,” she said in a social media post.

Alana Harkin had finished a nightshift at Simpson’s Bar and Restaurant in Carndonagh and was on her way home when tragedy struck.

“It’s with a heavy heart that we lost our dear friend and colleague.” Simpson’s wrote in a tribute.

“Alana had a smile that would brighten up any room, she was always so bubbly and friendly, she will always have a special place in our hearts and will be sorely missed by all.”

Gardai at the scene on Monday morning. (North West Newspix)

Simpson’s also wished their colleague Patrick a speedy recovery and the premises will close on Friday as a mark of respect for then funerals of the crash victims.

Alana was a former student at Carndonagh Community School and completed her Leaving Certificate in the summer.

Thomas was in his Leaving Cert year and Moville Community College, where the school community has been numbed.

“The tragic news that greeted our community has had a profound impact on people we know and love,” Moville Community College Parents Association said,

“We are heartbroken for everyone who has been devastated by the loss of precious life.”

Fr Eddie Gallagher told parishioners at Mass in St. Pius X Church, Moville on Monday morning that ‘a veil of sorrow’ had come upon the parish as news of the horror crash filtered out.

Retired priest Fr Jim McGonagle attended the scene of the double fatality and said it was one of the worst he has experienced in over 50 years in the priesthood.

Gardaí in Buncrana continue to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Any road users who were travelling on the R238 in the early hours of Monday morning between midnight and 1:00am and has camera footage (including dash-cam), is asked to make this available to Gardaí.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station on 074 932 0540, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.”