Three sisters seriously injured in the wrong-way M9 crash have issued an "incredibly difficult" update as they continue their recovery. Ella Hendricken, Niamh Kinsella and Alma Kinsella, aged in their 20s and 30s, were travelling with a young boy when their vehicle was struck head-on by a car on the M9 in Co Kildare, Ireland, in the early hours of 16 August.
Family en route to Dublin Airport
The family were heading to Dublin Airport for an overseas wedding when their Hyundai was hit by a BMW travelling the wrong way on the motorway. Five teenagers who were in the BMW lost their lives in the collision. A fundraiser launched for the sisters has raised over €820,000 (£700,000) since it began.
Joint statement from the sisters
Ella, Niamh and Alma have issued a joint statement thanking people for their kindness and support. The statement read: "We are continuing to take things one day at a time and are getting stronger as the days go by."
"We're incredibly grateful for all the kindness, messages and support that have been shown to us and our family. The past few weeks have been incredibly difficult for all of us, but the support we've received from so many people has meant more than we could ever put into words."
The statement added: "To every person who has donated, shared the fundraiser, sent a message or simply kept us and our family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you."
"The generosity and kindness shown to us has been overwhelming, and we are incredibly grateful. For now, we're continuing to focus on getting stronger and taking each day as it comes. With all our thanks, Ella, Niamh and Alma."
Teenagers killed in the collision
Teenagers Alex McCarthy, 16, Jeremy O'Brien, 18, Joey Carthy, 15, Jack Kennedy, 17, and Kamil Pustkowski, 17, all died in the crash. Their funerals took place days later.
The incident followed another wrong-way crash on the A66 in Middlesbrough on August 22. Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak all lost their lives in that collision. Police officers PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were also killed in the head-on crash in August.
