Five teenage boys have died following a devastating early-morning crash on Ireland’s M9 motorway in County Kildare, while four other people are receiving treatment for serious injuries.
The fatal incident occurred at about 3am on Sunday between Junctions 3 and 4 near Athy, when two vehicles collided head-on.
Police said one of the cars was travelling south on the northbound side of the motorway.
The deceased, all male teenagers, were taken from the wreckage and transported to Naas General Hospital, where post-mortem examinations are expected to be conducted.
Four occupants of the other vehicle were also injured.
The driver and front-seat passenger, both women in their 30s, are in critical condition.
A woman in her 20s who was seated at the back is being treated for serious injuries, while a boy who was also travelling in the vehicle remains seriously hurt.
Police representative John Joe O’Connell said the vehicle travelling against traffic was believed to be a stolen BMW that had earlier failed to stop for officers. He said Gardaí had been instructed not to pursue the car.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr O’Connell explained that officers and command teams must make rapid decisions during such incidents, particularly as some reckless motorists appear to use dangerous driving and encounters with police to gain attention on social media.
He said authorities faced a difficult challenge in dealing with individuals who engage in dangerous activities, including high-speed pursuits and driving against traffic, to attract online attention.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly expressed sympathy for the victims, describing the occupants of the second vehicle as innocent travellers who were heading towards Dublin Airport for a holiday.
He condemned motorists who deliberately drive on the wrong side of major roads, saying such conduct places the lives of unsuspecting road users at extreme risk.
The commissioner also noted that the circumstances surrounding the incident had been referred to Fiosrú, Ireland’s independent Police Ombudsman, limiting what he could publicly disclose about the Garda response.
Fiosrú confirmed that one of its investigators had attended the crash site and that an independent inquiry was underway.
The organisation stressed that its involvement does not automatically indicate that any Garda officer has been accused of misconduct.
Both directions of the M9 between Junctions 3 and 4 remain closed while forensic specialists examine the scene.
Gardaí are urging members of the public who witnessed the incident to contact investigators.
They are particularly interested in hearing from motorists who used the affected stretch of the motorway between 2am and 3am and may have captured relevant footage on dashcams.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong