Eight killed in horrific Inishowen crash

The smash occurred on the Drumfree to Buncrana Road at approximately 10.30pm on Sunday night.

The fatal road traffic collision involved a black Volkswagen Passat carrying eight young people and a second car being driven by a man in his 60s.

Seven of the young people were killed; the driver, the sole survivor.

The man driving the second car was also killed.

It is believed he was returning home after playing bingo in Buncrana.

The surviving driver was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital where he is said to be in a critical condition.

The victims were from Buncrana, Clonmany and Fahan.

Donegal senator Cecelia Keaveney said this was "an ordeal" for all of the families involved.

"Because of the close-knit community it affects very, very many people in Inishowen particularly," she said.

Ms Keaveney said she believed many of the victims were local people.

"We have had so many fatalities on the roads over the past decades, for many families, this will reawaken the difficulties they faced," she said.

"The immediate concern is for the families, but it will reawaken histories for many people as well."