Five teenagers killed in a wrong-way motorway crash on the M9 in County Kildare have been named, as the four family members they collided with remain in a 'serious' condition in hospitals across Ireland.
Victims and survivors
The teenagers were Jeremy O'Brien, 18, from Carlow; Alex McCarthy, 17, from Carlow; Joey Carthy, 15, from Athy, Kildare; Jack Kennedy, 17, also from Athy; and Kamil Pustkowski, 17, from Limerick. They died at the scene when their BMW collided head-on with a Hyundai carrying three women and a 7-year-old boy at more than 74mph in the early hours of Sunday (August 16).
The four Hyundai passengers, all from the same family, were seriously injured. The 7-year-old boy is being treated at Crumlin Children's Hospital, having suffered a broken leg. The female driver and front seat passenger remain critically ill at Tallaght University Hospital in south Dublin. The woman in the back seat was initially in a serious condition at St. Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny but was later moved to St Vincent's Hospital in south Dublin.
Tributes and investigation
Families and friends have paid tribute to the teenagers. Jeremy O'Brien's mother, Margaret, posted: "Rest in heavenly peace, my beautiful son. Things will never be the same without you. You took a piece of my heart to heaven with you. It was such a privilege to be your mother. I am so proud of you."
One tribute to Joey Carthy said: "Why did it have to be you of all people? You would never see a bad bone in his body. He really was going to make something when he grew up." Tributes were also paid to Kamil Pustkowski, with one pal saying on TikTok: "Rest easy, Kamil. Look over all of us." Another said: "Only spoke the other day and was planning to meet. My heart's broken bro, missing ye already. We will all do ye proud brother."
The survivors were driving to Dublin airport to fly to England for a wedding. Police initially believed the teens had stolen the car after reports of break-ins in Athy, but are now satisfied the BMW was legitimately purchased by an associate of one of the teenagers for €1,100 (£940).
Wider concerns
The tragedy has sparked debate over garda response, as officers did not pursue the vehicle when it drove the wrong way down the motorway. The police ombudsman, Fiosru, is examining Garda contact with the BMW before the collision. A video showing another car being driven against traffic has prompted calls for road safety enforcement, with frontline officers calling for appropriate pursuit training.
Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he was "shocked and saddened" at the tragedy, which he described as the result of "an irresponsible and dangerous act". He said such incidents are, in some cases, "being done for likes on social media", adding: "This is the second appalling crash we've seen on our roads in a matter of days as a result of the reckless driving of a car on the wrong side of the motorway, endangering the lives of innocent road users."
