Father speaks of daughters' tragedy

Tara and Sheryl Heaney were killed in collision

The father of two County Tyrone sisters killed in a car crash has been speaking about the tragedy.

Tara Heaney, 30, and her 18-year-old sister Sheryl from Sixmilecross died when their car was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle at about 2220 BST on Tuesday.

The women were heading towards Dublin, when the accident happened near Monasterboice in County Louth.

Michael Heaney said he had been very proud of his daughters.

Michael Heaney: Proud of his daughters

"It's going to be very difficult to live without them. At sad times of the year, they'll be missed.

"We'll do our best and take it a day as it comes and see how we handle it. We'll do the best we can," he said.

"We must go on - I have three other children and they deserve a life and I have to be strong enough to get through this and go on, but it's very difficult."

Community stunned

Tara had recently graduated from university and funded her studies by working in a care home for the elderly.

Sheryl, who was the youngest in the family, was awaiting the results of her A-levels and was hoping to study law. She had been living with Tara in Belfast.

The village of Sixmilecross has been stunned by the death of the popular sisters.

The extended family live in the area and own a number of businesses.

SDLP councillor Seamus Shields, who is a family friend, said it was very difficult for people in the rural community to come to terms with what had happened.

The remains of the Sheryl and Tara will be brought back to their family home on Thursday afternoon.