All five teenagers killed in a wrong-way motorway crash in Co Kildare were wearing balaclavas or masks, it has emerged. The discovery came as gardai found the fifth body hours after the collision, having initially believed only four had died.
Fifth body found under vehicle
The fatal head-on crash happened at around 3am on the M9 northbound near Castledermot, Co Kildare. According to several sources, the scene was so horrific that gardai initially thought only four teenagers had perished, as they were visible in the wreckage of the BMW. It was not until late in the afternoon, when specialists moved the car, that the fifth body was found beneath the vehicle.
Insiders added that gardai are investigating the possibility that the car the teens were travelling in had been stolen in Athy, Co Kildare earlier that morning. Officers were reportedly alerted to a group of teenagers attempting to break into cars and houses in the town in the early hours, some time before the crash.
Two investigations launched
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly issued a statement this evening, as two separate investigations were launched into the incident. One investigation into the crash itself is being conducted by An Garda Siochana, while independent policing watchdog Fiosrù is also carrying out an inquiry. This investigation pertains to any potential interactions that gardai may have had with the vehicle prior to the crash, which occurred near the exit for Moone and Athy.
The vehicle, a BMW, was heading southbound against traffic when it collided with a car carrying four members of an extended family. Three women in the car, one in her 20s and two in their 30s, sustained injuries, as did a seven-year-old child.
Commissioner's statement
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly stated: "My thoughts are with those injured in this morning’s collision on the M9. These family members were travelling innocently when they were struck by a vehicle being driven the wrong way down the motorway."
"This horrific incident, following the recent collision on the M50, shows how irresponsible and dangerous driving on the wrong-side of the motorway is. That, of course, should be self-evident, but what makes this reckless behaviour even more appalling is that in some cases it is being done for social media likes regardless of the potentially devastating impact it might have on innocent people and themselves."
"As this particular incident has been referred to Fiosrú, the Police Ombudsman, I am constrained in what I can say in detail about this incident, but I know that Gardaí do what they can to stop such vehicles while also taking into consideration all other road users. Gardaí are put in a really challenging situation dealing with such incidents. As always, An Garda Síochána will fully cooperate with the Police Ombudsman investigation which I hope is completed as expeditiously as possible."
