GARDAÍ BELIEVE the car in which three teenagers died in Co Tipperary on New Year's Eve was sold locally to one of the group just weeks ago for less than €500.
The three who were killed in the incident on Wednesday were named last night as Padraig Bourke (16), of Silvermines, Stuart Donnellan (14), of Cormack Drive, and Adrian O'Brien (17), of Youghalarra, all Nenagh.
Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Another boy was taken by ambulance to Nenagh General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Two other teenagers were travelling in the car when it went out of control and hit a tree at Kilboy on the Nenagh to Dolla road at 7.30pm.
The 16-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl survived and are recovering in the Mid Western General Hospital in Limerick.
All five teenagers knew each other and it is understood that they were driving from Nenagh to Silvermines when the vehicle left the road.
The cause of the crash is the subject of a Garda investigation. However, it appears the vehicle failed to take a dangerous bend and careered across the road before hitting a tree.
Gardaí were yesterday attempting to establish the origins of the Opel Corsa and to whom it was registered and insured since its sale.
The crash site is close to the entrance of Kilboy House, the former residence of the late Ryanair founder Tony Ryan. The crash took place at a dip in the road along a stretch where a number of crashes have occurred in recent years.
Silvermines parish priest Fr Brendan Moloney described the incident as a "major tragedy". He said the loss of three members of the community at such a young age and at the same time would be felt in parishes across north Tipperary.
"The loss of so many young lives is a major tragedy, especially at this time of year. Our deepest sympathies are with the families affected by this awful tragedy."
Supt Robert Noonan of Nenagh Garda station, who attended the scene on Wednesday evening, described it as "a very traumatic event".
"It was a very difficult time for all present, and in my service I think it has been one of the most difficult situations that I have had to deal with.
"It was an absolutely horrendous scene for all present - ambulance, fire brigade and gardaí. They did their best to remove people, to try and save lives and to get them to hospital.
"It's an absolute terrible tragedy to wake up to on the first day of January 2009 for everybody in the community."
Supt Noonan said the road conditions at the time, while "greasy", were dry and clear of frost.
Prayers for the deceased and the injured were offered at evening Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes church in Silvermines yesterday evening.
The scene of the crash was sealed off by gardaí to allow investigators carry out an examination of the road, the vehicle and the crash site throughout yesterday.
The road was reopened last night.