Five young adults identified after fatal two‑vehicle collision near Dundalk
Irish police have confirmed the identities of five people, aged between 21 and 23, who died in a two‑vehicle collision on the L3168 near Gibstown, County Louth, shortly after 9 p.m. on Nov. 15.
The crash involved a Volkswagen Golf and a Toyota Land Cruiser. Superintendent Charlie Armstrong of An Garda Síochána said five occupants of the Volkswagen — three men and two women, all in their early 20s — were pronounced dead at the scene. One other occupant of the Golf, a man in his 20s, was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda with serious but non‑life‑threatening injuries. Two occupants of the Land Cruiser, a man and a woman, were also treated in hospital for non‑life‑threatening injuries.
Victims
In a follow‑up Facebook post, police named the five deceased as:
- Chloe McGee, 23, of Carrickmacross
- Alan McCluskey, 23, of Drumconrath
- Dylan Commins, 23, of Ardee
- Shay Duffy, 21, of Carrickmacross
- Chloe Hipson, 21, of Lanarkshire, Scotland
"I want to express my condolences and sympathies and the sympathies of every member of An Garda Síochána to the families of the five adults who lost their lives," Superintendent Armstrong said. He confirmed that post‑mortem examinations will be carried out in the coming days.
Armstrong praised the professionalism of first responders, noting the scene was difficult and the weather adverse. He urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward to An Garda Síochána.
Tributes
Tributes have poured in locally. Padraig McGovern, principal of O'Fiaich College in Dundalk, described teacher Chloe McGee as "vivacious," "a lovely girl" and "a master of her craft," and said her loss is a profound shock for students and staff.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin wrote on X that he was "numbed and shocked at the horrific road crash that has led to the loss of five young lives," offering condolences to the families and praise for emergency personnel who attended the scene.
Police continue to appeal for witnesses or anyone with information to contact An Garda Síochána as inquiries remain ongoing.
