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31st Jan 2019

Hundreds of mourners turn out to pay tribute to the victims of the Donegal crash

Rebecca O'Keeffe

donegal crash

The four men will be laid to rest today.

Today is a sad day for many around the country, as four young men are laid to rest following a tragic accident.

Mícheál Roarty, Shaun Harkin, Daniel Scott, and John Harley were killed in a crash near Gortahork, Co Donegal, on Sunday evening.

The funerals for the four men, who were all friends, will be held today in West Donegal.

The first of the funeral masses was for 22-year-old Shaun Harkin, which took place this morning.

During the funeral, parish priest Sean Ó’Gallchoir said that today was one of “torment and trauma”.

He described the day as “one of the darkest and saddest days in the history of the community here”.

Speaking of the four young men, Fr Ó’Gallchoir said that the community will say farewell goodbye to “four fine young men snatched away from us in the prime of their life, in the bloom of their youth”.

Hundreds of mourners attended the mass, with emotional guards of honour taking place

The funeral mass of 24-year-old Mícheál Roarty was held in Dunlewy.

An avid GAA player, the gifts brought to the altar included football boots, aftershave and two jerseys.

Among the congregation were Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, 1992 All-Ireland-winning captain Anthony Molloy and chairman of Donegal GAA Michael McGath

The funeral mass of John Harley took place at 1pm in Falcarragh, and will be followed by the funeral of 23-year-old Daniel Scott in Gortahork at 2.30pm.

A devastating day. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victims.