Ireland Fiosrú investigating M50 crash after vehicle theft in Dublin
A stolen Toyota Yaris carrying eight teenage boys was driving the wrong way on the M50 when it collided head-on with another car at Junction 12 Firhouse in Dublin at 5.30am on Sunday, August 9, 2026. The car had been stolen from the Rathmines area and was travelling above the 100km/h speed limit; it had failed to stop for gardaí before entering the motorway. Nine people were hospitalised, including a 13-year-old in critical condition and Craig, a man in his 20s who was driving the other car. A Fiosrú investigation is underway following a referral from An Garda Síochána, and a separate probe is examining claims that two gardaí were instructed not to chase the vehicle.
- Reported10 Aug
2 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A stolen Toyota Yaris carrying eight teenage boys was driving the wrong way on the M50 and collided head-on with another car at Junction 12 Firhouse.
- Nine people were hospitalised, including a 13-year-old in critical condition and Craig, a man in his 20s and electrical apprentice who was driving the other car.
- The vehicle was travelling above the 100km/h speed limit and had failed to stop for gardaí before entering the motorway.
- Where
- The crash occurred on the M50 near Junction 12 Firhouse, Dublin; the car had been stolen from the Rathmines area.
- When
- The crash happened at 5.30am on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
- Other details
- Two gardaí from a west Dublin Garda station were instructed not to chase the car and were only qualified for routine, non-emergency driving at CBD level 1.
- A probe is being carried out into claims that gardaí were told not to chase the stolen car before the crash.
- Investigation
- Fiosrú received a referral from An Garda Síochána on the morning of August 9, 2026, and an investigation is underway under section 208(1)(b) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.
- Gardaí believe video footage on the phones of some of the teenagers may be key to their investigation.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatNine people were injured and hospitalised, with one in critical condition. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA vehicle was travelling northbound on the southbound carriageway of the M50. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatEight male youths were in one car driving down the up-ramp at Junction 12 when it collided head-on with another car. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe driver of the other car, a man in his 20s, is being treated for serious injuries. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA Toyota Yaris was stolen from the Rathmines area (irishtimes.com)
- whatEight teenagers were in the five-seater car when it crashed (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe vehicle was travelling above the 100km/h speed limit (irishtimes.com)
- whatNine people were hospitalised following the collision (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne 13-year-old teenager is in critical condition (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe stolen car had failed to stop for gardaí before going on to the M50 (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo gardaí from a west Dublin Garda station were instructed not to chase the car (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gardaí in the patrol car were only qualified for routine, non-emergency driving at CBD level 1 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe driver of the second car, a man in his 20s, was hospitalised with serious injuries (irishtimes.com)
- whatCraig, an electrical apprentice, was the driver of the other car and was hit head-on (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe referral was made following a road traffic incident proximate to junction 12 Firhouse of the M50. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe stolen car was spotted by gardaí in several parts of south and west Dublin on Sunday morning (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe crash occurred on the M50 while driving the wrong way (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe crash happened at 5.30am on Sunday (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA Garda watchdog investigation is underway after the collision. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationFiosrú received a referral from An Garda Síochána on the morning of Sunday, August 9. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationFiosrú is legally required to investigate incidents where gardaí were in contact with individuals who then died or were seriously injured (irishtimes.com)
- otherA referral does not necessarily mean a garda or gardaí have been accused of wrongdoing. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherFiosrú cannot make further comment pursuant to section 208(1)(b) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherA probe is being carried out into claims that gardaí were told not to chase a stolen car before an M50 crash. (extra.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Aug2026M50 crash latest: Grave concerns over health of teenager (13) in critical condition
Details of the M50 crash involving a stolen Toyota Yaris with eight teenagers, the role of two gardaí in a patrol car, the condition of the injured, and the launch of a Fiosrú investigation.
victim, 20s, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 13, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 11 Aug2026Probe into claims gardaí were told not to chase stolen car before horror M50 crash
Only the headline is available. The body text is template code with no details of the incident, people or dates.
- 10 Aug2026Garda watchdog investigating M50 wrong way crash after nine rushed to hospital
Adds Fiosrú investigation details: referral received from An Garda Síochána on the morning of 9 August 2026, on-call investigators attended the scene, investigation ongoing under section 208(1)(b) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. Confirms the driver of the other car is a man in his 20s with serious injuries and that the incident was proximate to junction 12 Firhouse.
victim, 20s, malesuspect, male