The first pictures have emerged of the victims of a horrific crash in Ireland, which claimed five lives and left several others, including two sisters, fighting for their lives in hospital. Niamh and Alma Kinsella, who are both in their 30s, sustained catastrophic injuries when their car collided with a vehicle carrying a group of joyriders travelling the wrong way down a motorway in Co Kildare on Sunday.
Family on way to Dublin Airport
Their sister, Ella Hendricken, who is in her 20s, was also seriously injured in the devastating collision, along with her young nephew. The five boys travelling in a BMW are understood to have been driving at speeds of more than 120km/h when their vehicle crashed into the sisters' Hyundai. Niamh and Alma are believed to have been sitting in the front of the car, while Ella and the child were in the back when the collision happened near Moone shortly before 3am.
It is understood that the family, from the Graigecullen area of Co Carlow, Ireland, were on their way to Dublin Airport to go to a wedding abroad. Locals said the family is well known in the area and described them as "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.
Victims named
Niamh and Alma reportedly remain in a critical condition in Tallaght Hospital. Ella is in St Vincent's Hospital in a serious condition. The young boy is being treated for injuries at Crumlin Children's Hospital.
All five boys who were in the BMW died in the crash. It claimed the lives of Jeremy O'Brien, 18, from Carlow; Alex McCarthy, 17, from Carlow; and Joey Carthy, 15, from Athy; Jack Kennedy, 17, also from Athy and Kamil Pustkowski, 17, from Limerick.
Community in mourning
Carlow Parish Priest Fr Thomas Little, who has spoken to affected families, told 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.
"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."
