Sisters and boy remain seriously injured after fatal M9 crash

Sarah Slater

Two sisters remain in critical condition in hospital following a head-on crash in which five teenage boys were killed when the second car they were in was driven the wrong way down the M9 in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Another sister and seven-year-old son of one of the women remain in serious condition in separate hospitals.

The four were making their way to Dublin Airport to attend a family wedding in the UK when the collision occurred around 3am between junctions 3 and 4 close to Moone, Co Kildare.

Their car was being driven the correct way on the motorway.

Post-mortem examinations are to be carried out at Naas General Hospital on the bodies of the teenage boys who were from Carlow and Kildare.

The BMW car they were occupants in was travelling southbound on the northbound carriageway when it hit the second car, the Carlow-based sisters, aged in their 30s and 20s, and boy were in.

The bodies of the teenage boys were removed from the wreckage late on Sunday. Two of the teenagers, aged 15 and 16 were brothers.

Two of the sisters remain in a critical condition in Tallaght University Hospital; their younger sister, who is in her 20s, is in a serious condition in St Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny.

The boy is also in a serious condition in Children's Health Ireland in Crumlin.

Both were back-seat passengers.

Forensic collision investigators have completed their examination of the scene, and the two vehicles were removed from the motorway last night.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said gardai will fully cooperate with the police ombudsman Fiosrú, which is carrying out its own investigation.

Gardaí say there was no pursuit taking place when the collision occurred. They were aware of the stolen vehicle the teenagers were travelling in prior to the incident.

Kelly added that such incidents were difficult, and gardaí and emergency responders were working every day to keep communities safe.

Garda Commissioner Kelly added in his statement that his thoughts were with those injured in the collision.

‘These family members were travelling innocently when they were struck by a vehicle being driven the wrong way down the motorway," he continued.

"This horrific incident, following the recent collision on the M50, shows how irresponsible and dangerous driving on the wrong side of the motorway is.

"That, of course, should be self-evident, but what makes this reckless behaviour even more appalling is that in some cases it is being done for social media likes regardless of the potentially devastating impact it might have on innocent people and themselves."

The Commissioner pointed out that he was constrained by the incident’s referral to Fiosrú but added that gardaí “do what they can to stop such vehicles while also taking into consideration all other road users”.

Fiosrú has become involved in the case following a referral by the gardaí, which must alert the agency to any incident involving the serious injury or death of any person at or around the time they died or were injured.

Gardaí were aware of the vehicle driving down the motorway but it remains unclear if any pursuit of that vehicle. It is understood that the BMW was not being pursued on the M9 at the time of the crash.

Fiosrú added: ‘“One of Fiosrú’s on call team of investigators attended the scene and its independent investigation is ongoing.

‘In line with its statutory remit, Fiosrú’s investigation relates to incidents involving contact with gardaí where a member of the public has died or been seriously injured. A referral does not necessarily mean a garda or gardaí have been accused of wrongdoing.

‘Instead, it means that Fiosrú should independently investigate the incident to ascertain whether or not the act or omission of a garda or gardaí may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person.’

A cousin of the injured women and girl who lives in Carlow described the crash ‘as a nightmare scenario. All we can do now is hope that they pull through this ok. They were just on their way to the airport to travel to the UK for the wedding of an aunt. You just don’t know from one minute to the next what is going to happen to you.’

The M9 from junction 3 to junction 4, northbound and southbound, remained closed throughout yesterday (Sunday) with local diversions in place. A Garda forensic collision examination was carried out for several hours.

Gardai in Athy are leading the investigation.

Nuala Carey of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) paid tribute to those affected by the crash.

Carey said: ‘Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible tragedy.

"Behind every road death is a person who will not return home to their family and loved ones, and a profound loss that will forever change the lives of those left behind.

"While the circumstances of this collision are a matter for the ongoing garda investigation, we must continue to work collectively to prevent further loss of life on our roads.

"Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we all have a role to play in making our roads safer."

Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, said people have woken up to devastating news of lives lost and others injured following the collision.

"The scenes are absolutely catastrophic, and my deepest sympathies go out to the families of those who have lost their lives, and for those who remain in a critical condition in hospital," she said.

"My heart also goes out to the first responders and all of those working in our emergency services who were met with the most horrific of scenes this morning.

"This loss of life is colossal and the effect those losses will have on their friends and families is incalculable," Ms Ní Raghallaigh said.

Local Fine Gael councillor Ivan Keatley said the local community around Moone and Athy has been left shocked.

"It's a very quiet rural area, not used to being in the headlines in any way, shape, or form. So obviously, when you hear about a crash, it was met with a sense of dread this morning," Cllr Keatley said.

"On my own behalf and on behalf of the community around this area, we obviously just want to extend our sympathies to the victims, and just to say that our thoughts are obviously with them and their families and their communities.’

Local parish priest Father Seamus McEntee for Athy, Narraghmore, and Moone in Co Kildare, said all of those affected would be in the thoughts and prayers of the local community.

"We are deeply saddened at this news and we extend our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died and to those who were injured," Fr McEntee said.