Teen killed in incorrect method crash laid to relaxation in gold casket as cops watch on
Joe Carthy, who was just 15, was one of five youngsters who died after the group drove a high-powered BMW the wrong way up the busy motorway
The coffin is carried into St. Michael the Archangel Church in Athy, for the funeral of Joe Carthy(Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
A funeral for one of the teenage boys killed in the motorway crash that left five dead and four injured has been held in Athy, Ireland today (August 21).
Joe Carthy, who at just 15 was the youngest of the victims to pass away following the collision, was one of five young boys sitting in a high-powered BMW car that drove the wrong way up a high-speed motorway where it tragically crashed into the front of another car, inside of which was a family travelling to Dublin Airport.
The crash, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, left three women, sisters Niamh and Alma Kinsella as well as Ella Hendricken seriously injured, along with another young boy who has not been named. All four remain in hospital.
The funeral was held today following the tragic and fatal crash(Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
Joe Carthy was remembered as someone who adored “boxing and fishing” in a deeply moving and emotional funeral procession before a funeral at St Michael’s Church this morning (21 August).
An elaborate gold-trimmed memorial was staged at the entrance to the church, where two stairways led up to pictures of Joe at the gates of heaven. One showed him as a baby, while the other was a more recent photograph.
A large open-book memorial also displayed heartbreaking poems from his sisters. An Garda Síochána maintained checkpoints on the road into town, with officers also stationed in the vicinity of the church. Outside the service, a screen displayed pictures and videos while music played.
Members of the Garda were seen outside(Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
One page read: “If I could write a story, it would be the greatest ever told of a kind and love brother who had a heart of gold.
“I could write a million pages, but there’s one thing I would say: just how much I love and miss him every single day. I know he always loved me; I may be hurt, but I won’t be sad. I know he’ll send me down the answers because he’ll always be my brother.”
The other read: “Today is full of memories of a brother laid to rest and every single one of them is filled with happiness. For you were someone special, always such a joy to know and there was so much pain when it was time to let you go.
Joe Carthy was just 15 when he died
“That’s why this special message is sent to heaven above for the angels to take care of you and give you all my love.”
A royal blue carpet was rolled out for mourners, while white flowers were positioned behind velvet ropes.
Outside the church, a large screen cycled through pictures of the teenager with his family and friends as songs including “Spartan Soldier”, “Dancing in the Sky” and “I’ll Be Missing You” played through speakers.
Joe’s gold casket was carried through the streets of Athy in a horse-drawn carriage before arriving at St Michael’s Church.
Heartbroken mourners walking directly behind the procession wore T-shirts bearing Joe’s picture, while those waiting at the church embraced and consoled one another.
His casket was lifted from the carriage and carried into the church for a short service led by Father Francis McCarthy.
Fr Francis McCarthy said Joe loved “boxing and fishing” and extended “sincere sympathy to Joe’s family”, adding: “We gather with sorrow in our hearts.”
After the Mass, Joe’s casket was carried out of the church and returned to the horse-drawn carriage before he was taken to a local graveyard and laid to rest.
The other four teenagers who died were Alex McCarthy, 17, who will be buried later today, Jack Kennedy, 17, Jeremy O’Brien and 17-year-old Kamil Pustkowski.
