Man pleads guilty to dangerous driving causing deaths of Monaghan teenagers

He is remanded on bail to appear for sentencing during next court term.

A 60-year-old man has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of two teenage girls outside Clones in 2023.

Anthony McGinn of Drumloo, Newbliss, Co Monaghan pleaded guilty at Monaghan Circuit Court this morning after appearing before Judge John Aylmer.

Kiea McCann (17) and her best friend, 16-year-old Dlava Mohammed, died when the car they were travelling in struck a tree at Legnakelly on July 31, 2023. The girls were on their way to a debs ball at the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan Town. The defendant is also charged with dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Dlava's sister, Avin Mohammed, on the same occasion.

During this morning’s proceedings, the defence solicitor told the court that they are still looking for specialist medical certificates to be completed and asked if the judge would consider their client’s “so far unblemished criminal record”.

Judge Aylmer ordered a probation report and remanded the defendant on continuing bail until his sentence hearing which is scheduled for the next court term.