Car crash victims buried

The wreckage of one of the cars

The funerals have taken place of the five people who were killed in a road accident near Newry in the early hours of Monday morning.

Eddie Collins, 26, and his 25-year-old sister Claire, from Meigh in south Armagh, were killed in the accident.

They were buried after Mass at the Sacred Heart Church in Cloghogue, County Armagh, on Wednesday.

The church is just yards from where their car was in collision with another vehicle containing three members of another family.

Mother and daughter, Margaret and Siobhan McArdle's funeral took place at Annaclone near Banbridge, County Down. Margaret's sister-in-law, Rita Haughey, was buried in Rathfriland.

The three were on their way home from watching the Special Olympics closing ceremony in Dublin.

Siobhan had just qualified as an accountant and was due to start a new job.

Claire Collins had been due to travel to the United States on Monday for a working holiday. She had recently qualified as a beautician.

Firefighters who attended the scene of the accident described it as utter devastation.

Brian McGuigan of the Fire Service said it was a horrific scene.

"The two cars were barely recognisable," he said. "The five occupants were all heavily trapped.

"It was one of the most serious incidents that I personally have had the displeasure to attend."

The deaths brought the total number of people who have died on Northern Ireland's roads this year to 82.