Fatal M9 crash leaves sisters seriously injured, five teenagers dead
Three women and a boy were seriously injured in a crash on the M9 motorway in Co Kildare on Sunday after their car was struck by a stolen vehicle, as reported by The Irish Times. The incident occurred near Moone in the early hours of the morning, when, according to extra.ie, a Hyundai carrying the sisters and a seven-year-old nephew was struck head-on by a BMW being driven the wrong way along the motorway. Five teenage boys travelling in the stolen BMW were killed.
The teenagers have been named in reports from both extra.ie and The Irish Times as Kamil Pustkowski, 17, from Limerick; Jack Kennedy, 17, from Athy; Joe “Joey” Carthy, 15, also from Athy; and Alex McCarthy, 17, and Jeremy O’Brien, who was in his late teens, both from Carlow.
The injured sisters have been identified as Alma and Niamh Kinsella, aged in their 30s, and Ella Hendricken, in her 20s. The young boy, their nephew, was also seriously injured. According to The Irish Times, the older sisters are in a critical condition in Tallaght University Hospital, while Ella Hendricken is being treated for serious injuries at St Vincent’s University Hospital, and the boy is at the children’s hospital in Crumlin. All four injured are from the Carlow area and were travelling to Dublin Airport to attend a family wedding in England when the collision occurred at about 3am on Sunday.
Community and political reaction
The crash has deeply affected the local community. Fr Tom Little, from Askea parish in Carlow, described it as “a terrible, sad event,” according to The Irish Times. “It’s very hard to comprehend what’s after happening. Everybody is hoping that those that are injured will make a full recovery,” he said. Fr Little has been in touch with the family of the injured, saying they were “bereft with sadness,” and also with relatives of the deceased teenagers, describing it as “a terrible day for them too.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed shock and sadness at the crash, as reported by The Irish Times. He said his thoughts and prayers were with the family who have been injured and referenced a separate M50 crash, adding that he would speak to the Minister for Justice and An Garda Síochána about the matter.
Local councillors also commented on the tragedy. Fergal Browne described it as “a very dark day in Carlow,” a sentiment echoed by others including Paul Doogue, Ken Murnane, and Mark Leigh, as reported by The Irish Times. Tusla, the child and family agency, issued a statement saying its staff are working to provide supports to the families and communities affected by the crash.
The Irish Times noted that the crash is part of a broader pattern, with an analysis piece linking it to young men seeking social media “likes” through reckless driving.
Fundraising campaign gains momentum
A GoFundMe campaign launched on Tuesday by Bryan Curley, a best friend of Ella Hendricken, has raised more than €350,000 in donations, according to extra.ie. Curley wrote on the fundraiser page: “This has been an incredibly difficult and frightening time for Ella, Niamh, Alma and their family. They are facing a long and challenging road ahead, and right now, I ask that you keep them all in your thoughts and prayers. All funds going directly to the family.”
The campaign has received public support from 2FM presenter Laura Fox, who is honeymooning in Italy after marrying Brian Moran last week. In a social media post, Fox urged followers to support the fundraiser, saying: “It’s absolutely devastating what has happened and they’ll need help long after they get out of hospital, so so so scary and I’m so sorry for everyone involved x.” Fox also warned that the sisters will need help “long after they are hopefully released from hospital.”
The crash has left the community in mourning, with the focus now on the recovery of the injured and the families of all those affected.