Three teenagers who were pronounced dead following a crash on the M9 at Co Kildare have been named locally as Garda work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident
Three teen boys who tragically died in a horror collision on the M9 at Co Kildare on Sunday have been named locally.
Three of the victims in the BMW, which was being driven the wrong way on the M9 between junctions 3 and 4 near Moone, Co Kildare, have been named locally as Joe Carthy, Alex McCarthy and Jeremy O’Brien. The identities of the two other victims was later revealed as Jack Kennedy and Kamil Pustkowski.
The four occupants of the second vehicle, which was travelling in the correct direction towards Dublin Airport for a family wedding in Cheshire, UK, were also named locally. Sisters Alma and Niamh Kinsella, both in their 30s, were in the front seats and remain in critical condition at Tallaght University Hospital.
Their sister Ellie Hendricken, in her 20s, was a rear-seat passenger alongside her seven-year-old nephew, reports breakingnews.ie.
Hendricken was transferred to St Vincent’s University Hospital from St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny on Sunday night, while the young boy is receiving treatment at Children’s Health Ireland in Crumlin. All four injured passengers are from the Carlow area.
A cousin of the injured family, speaking anonymously, described the relatives as “devastated” and expressed gratitude for the first responders: “Everyone is just so thankful to the Garda and emergency services for their help and care shown while at such a traumatic scene.”
Following the completion of forensic examinations by Garda technical teams, the bodies of the five teenagers were removed from the wreckage late on Sunday night for post-mortem examinations at Naas General Hospital.
Gardaí confirmed they were aware of the stolen vehicle prior to the 3am crash, but clarified that no pursuit was underway at the time of the impact.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly stated that officers will fully cooperate with the police ombudsman, Fiosrú, which is conducting an independent investigation.
Commissioner Kelly noted the difficulty of such incidents, adding that “gardaí and emergency responders were working every day to keep communities safe”.
Investigating officers continue to appeal for witnesses.
Anyone who was driving on the M9 motorway in the early hours of Sunday morning and possesses relevant video or dashcam footage is asked to contact Athy Garda Station on 059 8634210 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
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