M9 Tragedy: Funerals and Tributes for Teenage Victims
The M9 motorway in County Kildare has been the focus of grief and mourning following a fatal crash on August 16 that claimed the lives of five teenage boys. The collision occurred when the BMW in which they were travelling drove the wrong way down the motorway and collided head-on with a Hyundai carrying a family to Dublin Airport near Junction 3 at approximately 3am.
The victims have been named as Jeremy O'Brien, 18, from Carlow; Alex McCarthy, 16, from Carlow; Joey Carthy, 15, from Athy, Kildare; Jack Kennedy, 17, from Athy; and Kamil Pustkowski, 17, from Limerick. All five died in the crash, which the Irish Mirror described as occurring after the teens "recklessly drove" the BMW, with the vehicle suspected of travelling at more than 120km/h at the time of the collision.
Three of the teenagers were laid to rest on Friday, August 21. Joe Carthy's funeral was held at St Michael's Church in Athy, Alex McCarthy's service took place in Askea, Carlow, and Kamil Pustkowski lay in repose at a funeral home in Limerick before a cremation ceremony. The funerals of the remaining two victims are scheduled for this week: Jeremy O'Brien's funeral mass is set for Monday at 11am at the Church of the Holy Family in Askea, with burial following at St. Mary's Cemetery, Carlow, while Jack Kennedy's funeral mass will take place on Tuesday at St. Michael's Parish Church in Athy, ahead of a private cremation.
Family Tributes and Death Notices
Tributes have poured in for the victims, with families sharing their grief publicly. Jeremy O'Brien's mother, Margaret, posted a tribute on social media, writing: "Rest in heavenly peace my beautiful son" and "It was such a privilege to be your mother." She also expressed a wish to apologize to the family injured in the crash, telling the Irish Sun: "I am not proud of what happened and I don't condone what they did – I wish my son had never got into that car."
Alex McCarthy's death notice on RIP.ie described him as having "passed away suddenly on 16 August 2026, aged 16 years," and listed his parents Lucelle and Edward, his siblings Jordan, Edward, Donna, and Nakita, his grandparents, and his "heartbroken" girlfriend Georgia. The notice was widely shared, reflecting the community's sorrow.
Joe Carthy's death notice on RIP.ie listed his parents William and Gemma, his brothers John, Willie, and Ned, and his sisters Margarita and Mary Doll. St Michael's Boxing Club in Athy, where Joe was a member, issued a statement expressing condolences and offering sympathy to his family, particularly his father Willie, a volunteer and member of the club.
Mother's Defense of Kamil Pustkowski
Kamil Pustkowski's mother, Emilia Pustkowska, has spoken out to defend her son, describing him as "lost" and not the leader of the group, contrary to online rumors. She told the Irish Mail on Sunday that Kamil had taken responsibility for his previous actions in court, but his case was adjourned several times, reportedly due to a solicitors' strike and evidence not being ready. She said his behaviour had escalated to the point that she begged the justice system to intervene, even asking a judge to jail him: "Nobody listened to me. Do you believe I wanted my child in the prison? But if you see what's going on, you have to find different solutions."
Ms Pustkowska revealed that Kamil was diagnosed with autism and had struggled to keep friends. She said gardaí told her Kamil was not behind the wheel of the BMW, and she expressed her deep regret for the families of the crash victims, saying she was "so sorry."
Political and Garda Response
The crash has prompted strong reactions from political leaders. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said, "This has to stop," and Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan criticized social media companies for profiting from sharing deadly driving behaviour, suggesting new laws may be needed.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has provided additional context. Vice-president John Joe O'Connell said the BMW had failed to stop for gardaí earlier, and that an instruction was given not to engage with the vehicle as it travelled the wrong way down the M9. Assistant general secretary Tara McManus referenced a video of a car being driven the wrong way on a motorway in Cork, which appeared 24 hours after the M9 crash.
The Garda Ombudsman, Fiosru, is examining Garda contact with the BMW before the collision. The Irish Mirror also reported that the BMW was purchased for just over €1,000 in the Carlow area on August 11, and gardaí were satisfied it was not stolen, contrary to initial suspicions.
Continued Concerns
The M9 crash has brought attention to a wider issue of dangerous driving, with reports of a separate video showing a car being driven against traffic on a motorway, narrowly avoiding two oncoming HGVs. This has prompted further calls for road safety enforcement.
As the community mourns, the injured family members from the Hyundai – sisters Niamh and Alma Kinsella, Ella Hendricken, and Alma's seven-year-old son – remain in hospital. The Irish Mirror reported that the female driver and front seat passenger are critically ill in Tallaght University Hospital, the back seat woman has been moved to St Vincent's Hospital, and the boy is being treated at Crumlin Children's Hospital.
The M9 has since fully reopened to traffic, but the impact of the tragedy continues to be felt across the country. The upcoming funerals of Jeremy O'Brien and Jack Kennedy will bring further closure to the families and friends affected by this devastating event.