Two sisters are fighting for their lives in hospital after a car crash in Co Kildare that left five teenagers dead. Niamh and Alma Kinsella, both in their 30s, were in a car struck by another vehicle driving the wrong way on the motorway near Moone shortly before 3am on Sunday.
Their sister Ella Hendricken, in her 20s, also sustained serious injuries in the smash, along with her young nephew. The BMW containing the five boys crashed into their Hyundai at speeds exceeding 70mph.
Family travelling to Dublin Airport
Niamh and Alma are believed to have been seated in the front of the car, while the child and Ella were in the back seats. The family, from the Graigecullen area of Co Carlow, are believed to have been travelling to Dublin Airport en route to a wedding overseas.
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.
Hospital conditions and community response
Niamh and Alma remain in a critical condition in Tallaght Hospital, while Ella is in St Vincent's Hospital in a serious condition. The young boy is being treated for injuries at Crumlin Children's Hospital.
Carlow Parish Priest Fr Thomas Little, who has spoken to affected families, said: "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."
"Those that have lost loved ones are bereft and regret that it has ever happened," he added. "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."
Calls for pursuit training
The crash claimed the lives of 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.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has spoken out about the need for officers to receive proper training to legally pursue vehicles engaged in this kind of criminal behaviour. As it stands, the organisation says no officers have the required CBT training to legally pursue a vehicle.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, GRA rep Garda John Joe O'Connell, who represents colleagues in Co Kildare, said it has taken a tragedy for the government to wake up to the reality on the ground. "From our point of view these incidents of dangerous driving and reckless behaviour is not new. We've been calling for years - up to eight to 10 years in relation to pursuit training."
"We warned about this so now yes any proposals of training courses, legislation and support for our members is very welcome. But training isn't going to happen next week or next month. It's going to be well into 2027 before a handful of our members are trained in this," he said.
Garda O'Connell said legislation could be drawn up to prevent officers from being prosecuted simply for doing their job and pursuing criminals on the road. "So we have members who are subject to a disciplinary investigation when what they were trying to do is their job by stopping e-scooters or scramblers or a car. Something can be done now to allow our members to intervene without the fear of being criminally prosecuted themselves."
He said it is frustrating that it has sadly taken another tragedy for action to be talked about. "These are things we have been talking about for years and sadly it takes a tragedy for a politician to stand up on the soap box and make announcements. We are looking for more than announcements now. We are looking for action in relation to pursuit training. We are here to engage with senior garda management, the Department of Justice, Transport, whatever government officials have an interest in this field," he said.
Investigation and political reaction
Gardai continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, while Fiosru, the Garda Siochana Ombudsman, is also examining Garda contact with the BMW before the collision.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he was "shocked and saddened" at the tragedy, which he described as being the result of "an irresponsible and dangerous act." He said such incidents are, in some cases, "being done for likes on social media."
He said: "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."
