From a distance, it looked like an idyllic sunny morning in Leixlip for the group of teenagers sitting on the grass in the sunshine outside their school. But muffled crying could be heard as classmates comforted each other. The students, from Colaiste Chiarain, were reacting to the news of the deaths of their classmates, Jenny O'Reilly and David English.
The teenagers were killed on Wednesday night when they were hit by the Sligo-Dublin train at Louisa Bridge in Leixlip, Co Kildare, at about 9.10 p.m. Close friends Jenny (15) and David (17) had been out with a group of young people, and had broken away from the group to walk up the train track. Louisa Bridge and Confey train stations in Leixlip are popular haunts for teenagers, as they border the Royal Canal and provide scenic walking routes.
Gardai and the emergency services are carrying out an investigation into the deaths. There were suggestions one of the couple had stumbled and the other had tried to help. This has not been confirmed by gardai. Jenny O'Reilly died at the scene of the accident. David English died after being taken to the James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown.
A spokesman for Iarnrod Eireann described the event as a "tragic accident". He said the driver had sounded the horn and applied the brakes as soon as he saw the teenagers on the track but he could not stop in time. The train was not travelling at full speed due to several bends in the track at Leixlip.
Outside her home at Castle Park, friends and neighbours remembered Jenny O'Reilly as a beautiful girl. At Colaiste Chiaran, teacher Mr John Leamy remembered David English as a very bright and extremely nice student.
Leixlip priest Father Pat McHugh said the parish was shocked by the deaths. "People are so shocked, and they know that it could have easily been one of their kids. It's very tragic," he said. David English's removal to Our Lady of Nativity Church is at 6 p.m. this evening, while Jenny O'Reilly's will take place at 7.30 p.m. David's funeral is at 11 a.m. tomorrow and will be followed by Jenny O'Reilly's funeral at 1 p.m.
