Three members of the same family who were killed in a devastating crash in Co Tyrone yesterday have been named locally.
Tributes are being paid to brother and sister Dan McKane and Christine Duffy, and their aunt Julia McSorley, who are all from the wider Strabane area.
Four other members of their extended family were taken to hospital following the crash involving a minivan and a lorry, which happened on the A5 Tullyvar Road near Aughnacloy shortly after 7am.
READ MORE: Three people killed and four injured in horror crash
Parish priest of Strabane Fr Declan Boland told Belfast Live they were returning from England, where they had attended a family funeral, and were travelling from Dublin home to Strabane when it happened.
He said: “The community here is deeply saddened and profoundly shocked by what has happened.
“Everyone is just in stark disbelief that this family has been taken so tragically at this time so unexpectedly.
Fr Boland said the family has been struggling to come to terms with the tragic news.
He continued: “They cannot come to terms with it, they are meeting in small groups to help each other and people are arriving constantly.
“There’s lots of hugs, lots of tears, lots of disbelief but there is an overall sense of incredible sadness and loss.
“As the news has emerged the community has been greatly supporting the family and will continue to do so in the days ahead.”
A community vigil has been organised by a local community group for Friday evening close to the family home in Strabane.
Giving more details, a social media post reads: “Fountain Street Community Development Association in conjunction with our local Parish Priest Fr Declan Boland will be hosting a solidarity Rosary at the Grotto in Townsend Street, Strabane tomorrow night (Friday) at 7pm and are extending a warm word of welcome to everyone to come along and show their solidarity and condolences to the families bereaved and injured in the tragic traffic accident which occurred at Aughnacloy early this morning.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families involved here in Strabane, in Newtownstewart and Legfordrum. These families are well known and highly respected within their communities
“We extend best wishes for a speedy recovery to those currently in hospital in Belfast and Craigavon and urge you all to please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”
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