08/07/2013
Kilrea Road Deaths: Victims Named
The men who died following a road accident near Kilrea in County L'Derry have been named as Declan McKenna and Christopher O'Neill.
Police were called at around 03:00 on Saturday morning following reports of a blue BMW on fire in the Agivey Road area.
Both men were in their early 20s and from Kilrea.
Police are still investigating how the crash happened.
Christopher O'Neill was the chair of the local Sinn Féin branch.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has expressed his sympathy to Mr O'Neill's family and to Mr McKenna's.
Mr McGuinness said: "Last night's accident outside Kilrea has claimed the lives of two young local men and I would extend my condolences to both families involved. Declan McKenna and Christopher O'Neill were close friends and died together last night in this tragic accident.
"Christopher O'Neill is the Chairperson of the local Sinn Féin Cumman in Kilrea. He is the grandson of our party colleague John Davey killed by loyalists in 1989 and Republicans in County Derry and beyond are deeply shocked today at this terrible news.
"On behalf of republicans throughout Ireland I would wish to extend my condolences to the families involved at this most difficult of times."
East L'Derry SDLP Assembly Member John Dallat said: "Relations and friends have gathered to offer support to both families as they try to come to terms with the fact that two young men who were much loved are not coming home alive.
"Only those families who have been in this situation can begin to understand just how devastating it must be to get the call on the door that there has been such a tragedy."
Local SDLP Councillor Roisin Loftus added: "The mood in the town is just one of total shock at what has unfolded here today.
"They're two very popular young men in their early 20s, very popular within the local area, they had many friends in the area and the young people are just totally numbed by this."
(IT/JP)
Police were called at around 03:00 on Saturday morning following reports of a blue BMW on fire in the Agivey Road area.
Both men were in their early 20s and from Kilrea.
Police are still investigating how the crash happened.
Christopher O'Neill was the chair of the local Sinn Féin branch.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has expressed his sympathy to Mr O'Neill's family and to Mr McKenna's.
Mr McGuinness said: "Last night's accident outside Kilrea has claimed the lives of two young local men and I would extend my condolences to both families involved. Declan McKenna and Christopher O'Neill were close friends and died together last night in this tragic accident.
"Christopher O'Neill is the Chairperson of the local Sinn Féin Cumman in Kilrea. He is the grandson of our party colleague John Davey killed by loyalists in 1989 and Republicans in County Derry and beyond are deeply shocked today at this terrible news.
"On behalf of republicans throughout Ireland I would wish to extend my condolences to the families involved at this most difficult of times."
East L'Derry SDLP Assembly Member John Dallat said: "Relations and friends have gathered to offer support to both families as they try to come to terms with the fact that two young men who were much loved are not coming home alive.
"Only those families who have been in this situation can begin to understand just how devastating it must be to get the call on the door that there has been such a tragedy."
Local SDLP Councillor Roisin Loftus added: "The mood in the town is just one of total shock at what has unfolded here today.
"They're two very popular young men in their early 20s, very popular within the local area, they had many friends in the area and the young people are just totally numbed by this."
(IT/JP)
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