Pair killed in Donegal crash named locally as mother and daughter, six

A woman and a child killed in a crash in Co Donegal have been named locally as Natalie McLaughlin and her six-year-old daughter Ella.

Ella died in the collision involving a car and a van, which occurred on the R240 at Glentogher, Carndonagh, on Wednesday evening.

Her mother, aged in her 20s, was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry following the crash and was later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, where she died on Thursday evening.

A man in his 30s and another girl, who was a rear seat passenger in the car, are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at hospitals in Northern Ireland.

SDLP Foyle MLA Mark Durkan said that Ms McLaughlin was “well known and respected in the area”.

In a social media post alongside a photograph of the mother and daughter, he said: “This is the beautiful young mum and daughter, Natalie and Ella McLaughlin, who were tragically killed in a collision near their home in Carndonagh on Wednesday night.

“Natalie was a nurse in a local doctor’s surgery and was well known and respected in the area.

“Wee Ella was just six.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected by this terrible tragedy.”

Fianna Fail councillor Martin McDermott told the BBC that people locally were finding it difficult to “comprehend what has happened”.

He said: “This is a young mother and a young child, it has a real effect on people, on the community, people just don’t know what to say.

“Everybody’s life in that circle is changed forevermore.”

He added: “It has been very, very difficult over the last couple of days, it will be difficult over the next number of days, over the weeks and months ahead particularly for the families involved.”

An Garda Siochana is appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact them.

A spokesperson said: “Any road users who may have camera footage, including dashcam, and were travelling in the area between 6pm and 6.30pm on Wednesday July 2, are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardai.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Buncrana Garda station at 074 932 0540, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”

The road has since reopened following a technical examination.