Funerals of road crash victims

Tara and Sheryl Heaney were killed in collision

The funerals of two County Tyrone sisters killed in a car crash in the Republic of Ireland have taken place on Saturday.

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 on Tuesday.

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

Their coffins left their late residence at Tullyniel Road on Saturday for 1100 BST Requiem Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Beragh.

They were buried afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

The women's parents, Gwen and Michael, attended the funeral with their other children Michelle, Dawn and Glen.

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.

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