Best friends Nathan Corrigan, Petey McNamee and Peter Finnegan who passed away after a crash on Monday December 27th 2021 in Co. Tyrone
One of the victims, Nathan Corrigan, was less than two miles from his Co Tyrone house when he died early on Monday morning.
A fourth man travelling in the same car remains seriously ill in hospital.
Mr Corrigan and his pals Petey McNamee and Peter Finnegan died instantly when their car collided with a lorry on the A5 Omagh Road at Garvaghy, near Ballygawley.
The men, all in their twenties, had been out enjoying St Stephen’s night before the accident around 1.50am.
Just three days before he lost his life, Mr Corrigan had posted on Facebook a message urging people to remember tragedy can happen “in one moment.”
It said: “This year is almost gone. Not all our friends and family made it. Never take for granted the people you love.
“Be thankful for today, because in one moment your entire life could change.”
His cousin Orlagh McAleer wrote: “Our hearts and family are broken. Please look over your mum, dad and (Nathan’s brother) Callum and give them the strength to get through this.
“You will be forever missed and the memories I have will last forever.”
Petey McNamee, who was 15 minutes from the family home at Sixmilecross, was described by Aimee, one of his two sisters, as a “shining star in the sky.”
His niece Aoife McErlean said that he had “never failed to make anyone laugh,” adding, “fly high uncle Pete you’ll be missed by all.”
The scene of Monday’s crash involving a car an articulated lorry which claimed the lives of three young men
In a statement the club said members were “in shock” at the tragic news and sent condolences to the family on their loss.
It said: “We remember him as a polite, enthusiastic young boy.”
Mr Finnegan, from Clogher, had been around 15 minutes from home when the accident happened.
St Ciaran’s College in Ballygawley said two of the lads, Nathan Corrigan and Peter Finnegan, had been past pupils.
The school sent “deepest sympathies” to the families “and also to the family of their friend Petey McNamee who sadly lost his life too.
“We will keep the young man currently in hospital in our thoughts and prayers and wish him a full recovery.”
The crash scene was closed for more than 12 hours after the incident as police examined the scene.
SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said: “This heartbreaking news is deeply shocking and distressing to us all. My thoughts are with the families and friends of these young victims whose lives have been cut short in such tragic circumstances.
“My thoughts are also with the fourth victim who has been taken to hospital for treatment and I would like to wish him a speedy and full recovery.”
Local Alliance Councillor Stephen Donnelly said: “The entire community in Tyrone is devastated by this crash.”
He said he was hoping for the “swift recovery for the individual injured in this incident.
“The thoughts of everyone in the local area will be with him as he hopefully recovers quickly.”
The area’s Sinn Fein MP Orfhlaith Begley said “everyone will rally around to support all those affected in what will be difficult days ahead.”
Parish priest in Beragh, Monsignor Colum Curry, was at the scene of the accident on Monday.
“It was a horrific accident – a lot of debris scattered over the road, the car was on its roof,” he told Good Morning Ulster.
“The whole event just reminded me that life is precious and very fragile.”
Monsignor Curry said there was little people could say to the the bereaved families
“There are very few words that I think can adequately speak into such terrible anguish,” he said.
“I suppose the best we can do is just try to be present and help them in some small way just to cope with the darkness of this awful event.
“It has just been a huge shock to everybody,” added Monsignor Curry.
Tags: