"There is a sense of numbness and loss, and a lot of pain in Clones".
That's according to Fr Peter Corrigan, who told the Joe Finnegan Show this morning, that the gathering in the town last night for Kiea McCann's final journey home was indicative of that.
Fr Corrigan attended the scene of the accident outside Clones on Monday evening, which claimed the lives of Kiea and her best friend Dlava Mohamed, after the car they were travelling in left the road at Legnakelly and hit a tree.
Fr Corrigan is also providing support to the McCann family who, he says, have been comforted by the show of support and solidarity from local people. He says that while the family know that people are there for them, this tragedy - which has impacted the whole of Co Monaghan this week - is one that can never be explained.
Fr Corrigan highlighted the impact the teenagers' deaths is having on the local community and added that local people are standing with each other, and with loved ones, so they can support them through their grief.
"I suppose people were very much with them in that moment. People were there; they waited an hour for the remains to return. That is a sign of how impacted the people of the whole area are by this.
"They wanted to to express their support and presence, and their appreciation of the young people and of the families involved," he said. The National Educational Psychological Service is providing support to staff at Largy College and to the wider school community.
The Department of Education says the Service will continue its support in the coming weeks and months. A spokesperson added that when a tragic event happens, NEPS is available to advise those who work with students and who know them well.
Meanwhile, Kiea McCann will rest in her family home today until removal tomorrow, Thursday at 1.30pm. Her remians will arrive at the Sacred Heart Chapel in Clones for 2pm Funeral Mass. Kiea will be laid to rest in Mount St Oliver's Cemetery thereafter.
Dlava's remains will arrive at the family home in Clones at 7 o'clock this evening. Her removal takes place at 6:45am tomorrow, Thursday to Clonskeagh Mosque & Culture Centre in Dublin with burial at 3pm in Newcastle Muslim Cemetery.
A coach will leave the Diamond in Clones at 6.45am, to follow Dlava to her final resting place for all her family and friends.
