Teenager charged over death of mother and child in crash

An 18-year-old man has been charged with dangerous driving causing the death of a mother and daughter in County Donegal in 2025.

Lochlainn Doherty, with an address at Doaghmore, Clonmany, appeared before Buncrana District Court on Tuesday charged with eight offences.

These included dangerous driving causing the death of 27-year-old Natalie McLaughlin and her daughter, six-year-old Ella.

They died following a two-vehicle collision on the R240 at Glentogher, Carndonagh, on 2 July 2025.

Ella died at the scene and Natalie McLaughlin died the next day at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

McLaughlin's partner, Tyrone Irwin, and their daughter Rhea, who was approximately 20 months old at the time of the crash, were treated in hospital for non-life threatening injuries after the incident.

Doherty was charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing the death of McLaughlin and her daughter.

He was also charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Irwin and Rhea, two counts of driving a vehicle without holding a driving license and two counts of driving a vehicle without insurance.

Sgt Charlene Anderson gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

She told Judge Emile Daly that the accused made no reply to the charges.

Doherty has been remanded on bail without conditions to appear before Carndonagh District Court on 15 September.