The loving mother and daughter killed in a horrific road tragedy on the Inishowen peninsula following a collision on Wednesday evening have been named locally.
They were Natalie McLaughlin and her 6-year-old daughter Ella from Carndonagh.
Ms McLaughlin’s partner, Tyrone Irwin, is still in a serious condition at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry but his injuries are not understood to be life-threatening.
The couple’s other daughter, Rhea Rose, aged 2, was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital from Altnagelvin for specialist treatment but her injuries are not understood to be life-threatening either.
The horrific ordeal happened at 6.30pm on Wednesday following a collision between a car and a van at Glentogher, Carndonagh.
Little Ella was pronounced dead at the scene while her mother, father and little sister were rushed to the nearest hospital across the border in Derry.
The driver of the van, who is in his late teens, was treated at the scene but his injuries are not understood to be serious.
Ms McLaughlin was initially treated at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry but was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where she tragically passed away yesterday afternoon as a result of her injuries.
Ms McLaughlin, who was in her 20s, was well-known in her native Carndonagh where she worked as a nurse in a local doctor’s surgery.
She qualified with a Bachelor of Science in Adult Nursing from Ulster University and began working as as Registered Nurse in 2022.
Her parents and Ella’s grandparents, Danny and Joanne, and both extended families were last night being comforted by friends.
Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal Authority, Councillor Martin McDermott, said his thoughts and prayers are with the entire family at this trying time.
He said “Words fall short at this time, what can anybody say. They are such a lovely family and so well respected in our local community.
“It’s just devastating. The loss of anybody on our roads is difficult for any community to take.
“But the loss of a mother and daughter, particularly given the fact that they are so young, is even more poignant and more difficult to accept.
“People are just numb and there is very little I can add to that other than to keep them all in our thoughts and prayers.”
Gardai continue to investigate all aspects of the collision.
The road on which the collision occurred, the R240 at Carrowmore, was closed for a technical examination by Forensic Collision Investigators but reopened yesterday afternoon.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.
Head of the Garda Traffic Corps in Co Donegal, Inspector Sean McDaid asked any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were traveling in the area between 6pm and 6.30pm on Wednesday 2nd July, 2025, to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station on 074 932 0540, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
