Funerals of Donegal crash victims set to take place on Thursday

The funerals of four young men who died following a road crash in Co Donegal will take place on Thursday.

The man, all aged in their 20s, died at the scene following the incident involving a single car on a road near Magheraroarty, Gortahork, at 8.40pm on Sunday.

Members of their families gathered at the scene on Sunday night and were comforted by a local priest.

John Harley, 24, and Shaun Harkin, 22, from Falcarragh, Michael Roarty, 24, from Gweedore, and Daniel Scott, from Gortahork will be laid to rest in separate funerals on Thursday morning and afternoon.

Gortahork parish priest Father Sean Gallagher said he expects the local community will show the families enormous support during the wakes.

He described a feeling of disbelief in the area with three neighbouring parishes, Gortahork, Falcarragh and Gweedore, impacted.

“Everybody is numb,” he told the Press Association.

“But I know people will be good at showing the families support from the community, there will certainly be a lot of support for them during the wakes.”

Garda Superintendent David Kelly described the scene that greeted the emergency services who tried to save the men as “difficult”.

“It was a difficult scene as you can imagine, nine o’clock at night, it was dark, people gathering, family members attended. It was a tragedy unfolding,” he told media during a press conference at Bunbeg Garda station on Monday.

“I would like to offer our condolences to the families of the deceased, their friends and the local community.

“I’d also like to make an appeal for information, if anyone had seen the silver Toyota Corolla prior to 8.40pm or earlier in the evening to contact the gardai at Millford Garda station on 074 9153060.”