Northern Ireland

Community in shock as tributes pour in for two friends from Co Tyrone killed in road crash

The fatal collision happened near Liscooley in Co Donegal on Friday night

Ryan Glenn (left) and Gordy Galbraith (right), who were killed in a Friday night road crash in Co Donegal.
Ryan Glenn (left) and Gordy Galbraith (right), who were killed in a Friday night road crash in Co Donegal

A Co Tyrone community has been left stunned by the deaths of two friends in an “unspeakable” road crash tragedy in Co Donegal.

Named locally as Ryan Glenn (25) and Gordy Galbraith, who was in his 30s, and both from Co Tyrone, they died in a collision on Friday night.

The crash happened in the village of Liscooley at around 10pm.

Both victims, who were from nearby Castlederg, died at the scene.

A woman and a man, both aged in their 70s, were taken to Letterkenny Hospital for treatment to serious injuries, while a second woman in her 30s was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Join the Irish News Whatsapp channel

Family and friends have been posting tributes to the two friends on social media, with many describing their devastation following the fatal collision.

Mr Glenn’s partner shared a photograph of them together and wrote that she was “absolutely heartbroken, my one and only love”.

She also described him as “my world”.

Mr Galbraith, a father-of-two, was also remembered by Dergview Football Club in Castlederg, where he had been a player.

“Gordy was a past player of the club at both youth and senior level and his 2 sons are currently playing with our youth academy,” the club said in a post on Facebook.

The Club would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the Galbraith family on the tragic death of Gordy and to the...

Posted by Dergview FC on Saturday 23 November 2024

“Our thoughts and prayers are also with the others involved in the accident.”

Mr Galbraith was also a member of the local Apprentice Boys’ Club and a former member of the Pride of the Derg Flute Band.

The band paid tribute to Mr Galbraith, who was a former member and a “loyal supporter ever since the band’s formation in 2004″.

The Officers and Members of the POTD would like to pass on our condolences to both the Galbraith and Glenn families...

Posted by Pride Of The Derg Flute Band Castlederg on Saturday 23 November 2024

“We cannot fail to mention Gordy’s musical talents were endless, whether playing the flute, the harmonica or simply singing us a song,” the band said.

Sinn Féin MLA for West Tyrone Maolíosa McHugh said there was shock in Castlederg following the deaths.

“People in the area were devastated to wake up this morning to this tragic news,” she said.

Sinn Féin MLA Maolíosa McHugh says there is shock at the deaths of two men from Castlederg and the injury of other...

Posted by Maolíosa McHugh MLA on Saturday 23 November 2024

“I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to the families of Gordy Galbraith and of Ryan Glenn who have been plunged into grief as a result of this tragedy.

“My thoughts and prayers are also with the three people injured and I hope they make a full recovery.

“I want to commend the emergency services who attended and assisted at the scene of the terrible tragedy.”

Independent councillor Jason Barr also said he “offered his condolences to both families following this unspeakable tragedy”.

“People in Castlederg are stunned by what has happened,” he said.

“But Castlederg will support these families as it always does.”

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to the fatal collision to come forward.

They are also urging any road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, who were travelling in the area at the time of the crash to make it available.