A fundraising appeal launched for three sisters injured in the M9 motorway crash on Sunday has raised over €210,000 in just 24 hours. The appeal, set up by a friend of one of the sisters, aims to support Niamh and Alma Kinsella and Ella Hendricken, who suffered catastrophic injuries in the collision that killed five teenagers.
Fundraiser surpasses €210,000
As of Wednesday morning, the online fundraiser had collected more than €210,000 from nearly 8,000 donations, exceeding halfway towards its €350,000 target. The appeal was created on Tuesday by Bryan Curley, a friend of Ella's.
In a statement on the fundraiser page, Curley wrote: "Hi my name is Bryan and I'm setting up this fundraiser for my best friend Ella and her sisters, Niamh and Alma, who were recently involved in a serious road traffic accident. This has been an incredibly difficult and frightening time for Ella, Niamh, Alma and their family. They are facing a long and challenging road ahead, and right now, I ask that you keep them all in your thoughts and prayers. All funds going directly to the family."
Injuries and hospital care
Niamh and Alma, both in their 30s, are battling for their lives in hospital after their vehicle collided with a car travelling the wrong way down the motorway in Co Kildare. They are believed to remain in a critical condition at Tallaght Hospital. Ella, in her 20s, is at St Vincent's Hospital in a serious condition, and her young nephew is receiving treatment for injuries at Crumlin Children's Hospital.
The sisters and the child were travelling to Dublin Airport to catch a flight to a wedding abroad when the collision occurred near Moone shortly before 3am. The family, from the Graigecullen area of Co Carlow, were in a Hyundai that was struck by a BMW carrying five boys at speeds exceeding 120km/h.
Community response
Locals described the family as well known in the area and "lovely" and "quiet." Ella is understood to have been working as a social worker in Carlow, while Niamh is understood to be a PE teacher at a local school.
Carlow Parish Priest Fr Thomas Little, who has spoken to affected families, told the Irish Mirror: "The families of the ones that were hurt are hoping to God that they make a speedy recovery. The community is praying for them and we remembered them in our Masses since the car accident." He added: "Those that have lost loved ones are bereft and regret that it has ever happened. There's no doubt a horrendous accident and the emergency services and the guards and hospitals have responded as best they can to the circumstances."
