The Irish teens who died just hours after they were given their state exam results received 'excellent' grades, their principals have said.
Zoey Coffey, Nicole Murphy, Grace McSweeney, all aged 18, and Grace's 24-year-old brother Luke McSweeney, died after the car they were travelling in hit a wall and overturned in Clonmel, County Tipperary.
They had been heading to a Leaving Cert results celebration when the horrific accident happened.
Advert
Michael O'Loughlin - the principal of Presentation Secondary School, where Zoey and Grace had attended - has issued a heartfelt statement following the tragic news.
He said: “Our school community is in mourning today. No words can express our sorrow, our pain and our grief.
“Zoey and Grace were two beautiful students, loved by everybody who met them and achieved such excellent results on Friday. Both girls were absolutely thrilled with the results and were looking forward to new exciting times ahead.
“Grace was a gentle and kind person. She was thoughtful, considerate, and hard-working. Grace was a gifted gymnast and a dancer and a very good student who had a positive impact on everybody she encountered.
Advert
“Zoey's personality was warm and vibrant. She was funny, kind and really determined. Zoey was a diligent worker and was very popular with her peers and teachers, and was central to all aspects of school life in the Pres.”
Anne McGrath, principal of Loreto Secondary School where Nicole had been a pupil, said the teen had picked up 'excellent' Leaving Certificate results on Friday.
She added: “Nicole was a beautiful student, highly regarded by staff and students alike. During her time in Loreto, she developed into a young woman who was kind, gentle and witty, and she was a trusted and loyal friend.
“Yesterday's celebrations are now replaced by unbearable grief and a sense of loss for the whole local community.
Advert
“No words can express our sorrow, pain and grief.”
Ireland's premier Leo Varadkar also issued a statement, in which he said the ‘whole nation mourns’.
“Leaving Cert results night should mark the beginning of a world of opportunities for young people,” he said.
“It's a milestone on the road from childhood to adulthood.
Advert
“For young lives, so full of possibility, to be cut short in this way is truly devastating and heartbreaking. The whole nation mourns them.
“My sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have died and the wider community in Clonmel and Tipperary. The thoughts of the whole country are with them, their school and their community.
“I am assured that the school authorities and HSE will work together to put in place the necessary supports for their classmates and community. We must come together in times such as this.”
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Claire Reid