Alex McCarthy, 16, was one of five joyriders who died instantly on the M9 in Co Kildare, Ireland, in the early hours of Sunday morning. His family have now paid tribute to him online
A teenager killed in the horror head-on crash on a motorway was “adored and cherished”, his heartbroken family have said. Alex McCarthy, 16, was one of five joyriders who died instantly on the M9 in Co Kildare, Ireland, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The high-powered BMW he was in was recklessly driven the wrong way down a motorway into the path of an oncoming family, leaving three sisters and a seven-year-old boy catastrophically injured.
On Wednesday, a death notice was posted online by his relatives, who said he will be sadly missed by his loving family, including his “heartbroken” parents and girlfriend, as well as his many extended family members and friends.
The notice, posted on RIP.ie, reads: “Alex McCarthy, Carlow, passed away suddenly on 16 August 2026, aged 16 years. Deeply loved by his heartbroken mother Lucelle and father Edward. Adored brother of Jordan, Edward, Donna and Nakita. Cherished grandson of Tina Roycroft and William and Mary McCarthy.
“Alex will be sadly missed by parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, loving and heartbroken girlfriend Georgia, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives and friends. May Alex’s soul rest In peace.” His funeral details will be released in time.
Alex lost died alongside 15-year-old Joe Carthy, 17-year-olds Jack Kennedy and Kamil Pustkowski, and 18-year-old Jeremy O’Brien when they smashed into a Hyundai en route to Dublin Airport.
Niamh and Alma Kinsella, who are in their 30s, are fighting for their lives in hospital after their car collided with the BMW. Sibling Ella Hendricken, who is in her 20s, was also seriously injured in the crash, as was her young nephew.
Niamh and Alma are understood to have been in the front of the vehicle while the child and Ella were in the back when the horrific collision occurred near Moone shortly before 3am.
The innocent family, from the Graigecullen area of Co Carlow, are understood to have been going to Dublin Airport where they were making their way to a wedding abroad.
Locals said the family are 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 school.
The carnage has socked Ireland and sparked outrage, leading to calls for new laws to stem a new tide of joyriding and a social media trend of cars being driven the wrong way on motorways.