Five teenage boys killed in M9 crash named locally
Sarah Slater
The five teenage boys killed in a head-on collision in which three sisters and a young boy suffered serious injuries on the M9 on Sunday morning have been named locally.
Gardai have not yet released their names officially however, they have been named locally as brothers Alex and Jeremy McCarthy from Tullow Road in Carlow Town, aged 15 and 16. Joe Carthy from Athy, Co Kildare, Barry Chappell from Tullow Rd, Carlow Town, and Jack Kennedy also from the same area.
The teenagers who were in a BMW car were driving the wrong way down the motorway between junctions 3 and 4 close to Moone, Co Kildare.
Three sisters and a seven-year-old boy who suffered serious injuries as a result of 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 have been named locally.
Sisters Alma and Niamh Kinsella, aged in their 30s, were in the front of the car while their younger sister Ellie Hendricken, who is in her 20s, was in a rear seat passenger along with her nephew.
The women aged in their 30s remain in critical condition at Tallaght University Hospital.
Their younger sister, who is being treated for serious injuries, was transferred to St Vincent’s University Hospital on Sunday night from St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny.
The boy, who was also seriously injured, is being treated in Children's Health Ireland in Crumlin. All four are from the Carlow area.
The four were making their way to Dublin Airport to attend a family wedding in Cheshire 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 five teenage boys who were from Carlow and Kildare areas.
The bodies of the teenage boys were removed from the wreckage late on Sunday following the conclusion of forensic examinations by Garda technical teams.
Two of the teenagers, aged 15 and 16, were brothers.
A cousin of the injured family, who did not wish to be named, said that they are all “devastated” by what happened and that “everyone is just so thankful to the Garda and emergency services for their help and care shown while at such a traumatic scene.”
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.
Gardaí are continuing to appeal to anyone who was driving on the M9 motorway in the early hours of Sunday morning, and who may have video footage (including dashcam), to contact Athy Garda Station on 059 8634210 or the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.
