Funerals take place of two youths killed on M7

THE FUNERALS have taken place of the two teenagers killed in last Sunday's crash on the M7.

Owen Merriman, Palmerstown Woods, Clondalkin, and Leigh Mooney ( both 19), Woodford Park Road, Clondalkin, died when their Fiat Punto hatchback collided with a car being driven by an off-duty Garda last Sunday morning.

The young men died in the head-on collision which happened before dawn along the southbound lane of the dual-carriageway between the Citywest and Rathcoole exits.

They had gone the wrong way down a slip road on to the motorway.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) and the Garda are now investigating complaints that the exit they took was not adequately signposted.

Fr Joseph Ryan, the parish priest of St Matthew's in Ballyfermot, described Mr Merriman as a "generous and gentle guy" who always had a smile on his face.

The funeral Mass took place at Our Lady Of The Assumption Church in Ballyfermot because his parish church was being renovated. The burial afterwards was at Palmerstown cemetery.

Fr Ryan said Mr Merriman had a great love of football which manifested itself in his support for Manchester United and his local club in Palmerstown Wood.

A picture of him in a morning suit adorned the coffin. Fr Ryan thanked, on behalf of the family, all those who had offered help and support to them following the tragedy.

The mourners were led by his parents, David and Marie, and his two older brothers Stephen and Carl.

The funeral of Mr Mooney took place at the Church of the Presentation of Our Lord in Knockmitten, Clondalkin, yesterday morning.

He is survived by his parents Thomas and Caroline, his brother Jamie and his sister Karen.

He was buried afterwards in Newlands cemetery.