Community's shock at road deaths

The scene of the crash in Couinty Fermanagh

A County Fermanagh community is trying to come to terms with the deaths of four young people.

Two teenage girls and two men in their early 20s were killed when the car they were in crashed on the Lisnaskea to Newtownbutler Road on Sunday.

A 19-year-old man, arrested in connection with the accident, has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Six people were in the car which struck a tree at about 0330 BST.

Two girls and two men who were in the back seat were killed.

They were Anita Swift, 16, Jonathan McDonald, 21, both from Newtownbutler and Danica Mary O'Rourke, 17, and Peter Seamus Leonard, 21, both from Lisnaskea.

The arrested man, who was driving, and the front-seat passenger were taken to hospital. Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Peter Leonard was from Moorlough Road, Carrickmacusker, Lisnaskea. Jonathan McDonald was from Aghagay Park in Newtownbutler.

Anita Swift was from Magheravelly Road in Newtownbutler. Danica O'Rourke was from The Point, Attybarom, in Lisnaskea.

Seamus Leonard lost his son Peter in the crash

Peter Leonard's father, Seamus, said: "I had to go to the mortuary and if anybody could have heard the wails of pain from the families.

"Young fellas and young girls slow down, there is no need to bring this home to your doorstep."

The youngest victim was Anita Swift, who was a world champion line-dancer, and her dance teacher, Aravon McCann, said she felt devastated by the loss.

"She lived life to the full - she was very talented, had lots to offer and was well-known throughout Ireland, England, Holland and America for her dance skills," she said.

"My phone has not stopped since yesterday with calls of condolences for her family on behalf of the line-dancing community from all over the world."

'Finality'

Christine McCauley, the godmother of Danica O'Rourke, said the family would never get over her death.

"I was thinking to myself that if she was in hospital and she was seriously injured you would still think there is still life, there is hope," she said.

"With this situation, it is the finality of it. It is the end, nothing is going to change."

Newtownbutler parish priest Father Michael King said the community was "devastated". "People are calling to the accident site and are laying wreaths and putting flowers along the side of the road and visiting the site and praying there," he said.

"That, in itself, is an indication of the shock of the communities that have lost young people in this tragic accident."

A total of 65 people have been killed on Northern Ireland's roads so far this year.