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The 15-year-old, from Thurles, was travelling as a passenger in one of the cars, with three other occupants on the R503 at Rearcross, near Nenagh when it collided with another car just after 6.45pm.
Ms O’Meara was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services.
Her body was transferred to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.
The three other occupants of that car – a man in his 20s, a woman in her 20s, and a girl in her mid-teens – and the woman driver of the second car were transported by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for assessment. Their injuries are considered to be non-life-threatening.
Katie O’Meara paid tribute to her “beautiful sister” following the news of her tragic death.
“I love you so much unconditionally baby girl,” she wrote on Facebook.
Adding: “I still just can’t believe this is after happening to me, what am I meant to do now. How can I move forward without you, you where my whole world and more.”
Cllr Sean Ryan, Cathaoirleach for the Thurles Municipal District told the Irish Independent that the entire community is in shock following the collision, with a “huge veil of sadness” hanging over the town of Thurles.
He offered his sincere condolences to Ms O’Meara’s mother and father Mike and Lisa on the death of their daughter Leah, who he said was a very popular young girl in Thurles.
It is understood that the family had just moved into a new house in an estate there and were “very happy in their new home” with her parents prominently involved in the local residents group.
Cllr Ryan said her tragic death is “beyond comprehension” and is “extremely sad.”
“These things are extremely tragic, particularly the loss of a child to any family. There has been a lot of accidents in the area and we lost four young people in Clonmel a few months ago.
“Now this on top of it. There has been huge sadness in the area, especially when children die,” he said, following the death of Ms O’Meara, who was a third-year student in Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed in Thurles.
He stressed that the entire community is pulling together for Ms O’Meara’s family who they all know very well and “are thinking of them at this time.”
A local priest for Thurles told the Irish Independent that he feels “so sad for all the families involved” and that prayers were said at 7pm Mass this Friday evening for Ms O’Meara.
Ms O’Meara’s death bring to 25 the number of people killed on Irish roads so far this year.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Additionally, anyone with camera footage (including dashcam) from the area at the time is requested to provide it to Gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station at 067 50450, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
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