Gardaí welcome Fiosrú finding on M9 fatal collision in Kildare
Five teenagers died and three women and a child from the same family were seriously injured in a head-on collision on the M9 motorway in County Kildare at about 3am on 16 August 2026, when a BMW travelling in the wrong direction struck a Hyundai. The five teenagers killed were Kamil Pustkowski (17), Jack Kennedy (17), Jeremy O'Brien (18), Joe Carthy (15) and Alex McCarthy (17); the injured were sisters Ella Hendricken, Niamh Kinsella and Alma Kinsella, who were with a young boy on their way to Dublin Airport. Gardaí had been following the BMW on the N78 in Athy before it joined the M9 against traffic, and Fiosrú launched an independent investigation following a mandatory referral on 16 August 2026. On 18 September 2026, Fiosrú found that Gardaí acted appropriately, within the law and in line with relevant policies and procedures, a finding welcomed by Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly. An Garda Síochána continues to investigate all circumstances of the fatal collision.
- Reported18 Sep
4 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Five teenagers died and three women and a child from the same family were seriously injured in a head-on collision when a BMW travelling in the wrong direction struck a Hyundai.
- The five teenagers killed were Kamil Pustkowski (17) from Limerick, Jack Kennedy (17) from Athy, Jeremy O'Brien (18) from Carlow, Joe Carthy (15) from Athy, and Alex McCarthy (17) from Carlow.
- The three injured women were sisters Ella Hendricken, Niamh Kinsella and Alma Kinsella, who were with a young boy on their way to Dublin Airport to fly to the UK for a wedding.
- The BMW undertook a number of U-turns before fatally colliding with the oncoming Hyundai.
- Where
- The collision occurred on the M9 northbound at Junction 3 in County Kildare; Gardaí had been following the BMW on the N78 in Athy before it joined the M9 against the direction of traffic.
- When
- The collision occurred at about 3am on 16 August 2026.
- Investigation
- Gardaí had been following the BMW on the N78 in Athy for a short period; permission to continue the pursuit was granted by the Garda control room, and after the BMW entered the M9 dual carriageway the pursuit was terminated and other units attempted to place a stopping device.
- Fiosrú launched an independent investigation following a mandatory referral from An Garda Síochána on 16 August 2026, reviewing CCTV, radio transmissions and receiving a briefing from the forensic collision investigator.
- An Garda Síochána continues to investigate all circumstances of the fatal road traffic collision.
- In court
- On 18 September 2026, Fiosrú found that Gardaí who followed the vehicle acted in accordance with the law and relevant Garda policies and procedures.
- Other details
- Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly welcomed the Fiosrú finding and called for increased statutory protections for Gardaí when driving on duty.
- A GoFundMe appeal set up for the four injured relatives raised more than €830,000.
40 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThree women and a child in a Hyundai car were seriously injured in the head-on collision with the BMW. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe BMW undertook a number of U-turns before fatally colliding with an oncoming car. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFive teenagers died in the head-on collision. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA child and three women from the same family were seriously injured. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe vehicle with the injured family was hit by a car travelling in the wrong direction. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe car in which the five teenagers were travelling was a BMW. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe three injured sisters were with a young boy on the way to Dublin Airport for a holiday. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFour persons were injured in the collision (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí followed a vehicle prior to its involvement in the collision (garda.ie)
- whatFive teenagers died in the collision (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe BMW was travelling in the wrong direction on the M9 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí had been following the BMW on the N78 in Athy for a short period before it joined the M9 (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGardaí had been following the car on the N78 in Athy before it joined the M9 motorway against the direction of traffic. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe collision occurred on the M9 northbound at Junction 3 in Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe collision was a fatal head-on collision on the M9 motorway in County Kildare (garda.ie)
- whenThe collision occurred at about 3am on 16 August 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe collision occurred on 16 August 2026 (garda.ie)
- whenThe head-on crash occurred in the early hours of 16 August 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFiosrú investigators obtained and reviewed CCTV and radio transmissions and received a briefing from the forensic collision investigator. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationPermission to continue the pursuit of the BMW was granted by the Garda control room. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAfter the BMW entered the M9 dual carriageway, the Garda vehicle terminated its pursuit and the control room confirmed the pursuit should not continue. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationOther Garda units attempted to place a stopping device at an appropriate location. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFiosrú became involved following a referral by An Garda Síochána, which must alert the agency when serious injury or death occurs after an interaction with the force. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFiosrú found that Gardaí acted appropriately, within the law and in line with relevant policies and procedures. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFiosrú launched an independent investigation following a mandatory referral from gardaí on 16 August 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí had been following the car on the N78 in Athy for a short period before it joined the M9. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigators obtained and reviewed CCTV and radio transmissions and received a briefing from the forensic collision investigator. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí continue to investigate all circumstances of the collision (garda.ie)
- investigationFiosrú found gardaí acted appropriately, within the law and in line with relevant policies and procedures (irishmirror.ie)
- courtFiosrú found Gardaí acted in accordance with the law and relevant policies (garda.ie)
- otherFiosrú found Gardaí who followed a vehicle before the fatal M9 collision acted in accordance with the law and relevant Garda policies and procedures. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGarda Commissioner Justin Kelly said he had spoken publicly about the need for increased statutory protections for gardaí when driving as part of their duty. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe four injured relatives were driving to Dublin Airport to fly to the UK for a wedding. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA GoFundMe appeal set up for the four injured relatives has raised more than €830,000. (irishtimes.com)
- otherTikTok was criticised by politicians and road safety advocates as the primary social platform where wrong-way driving content was being posted. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Oireachtas Justice Committee heard that only six frontline gardaí were likely to get pursuit training by the end of the year, with significant numbers possibly not completing until 2028. (irishtimes.com)
- otherJustice Minister Jim O'Callaghan spoke to media at the Department of Justice in Dublin following the crash. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGarda Commissioner Justin Kelly welcomed the Fiosrú finding (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherCommissioner Kelly spoke about the incident at the Ploughing Championships (garda.ie)
- otherCommissioner Kelly called for increased statutory protections for gardaí when driving on duty (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Sep2026Gardai issue major statement on fatal M9 collision in which five people died
Fiosrú's independent investigation concluded gardaí acted appropriately; Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly welcomed the finding and called for increased statutory protections for gardaí.
victimvictimvictimvictimvictimvictimvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 18 Sep202618/09/2026 Statement from An Garda Síochána on Fatal Collision on M9
Garda statement welcoming Fiosrú finding that Gardaí acted in accordance with law and relevant policies; investigation into the fatal collision continues; four persons injured; Commissioner Kelly spoke at Ploughing Championships about supporting members.
victimvictimvictimvictim - 18 Sep2026Gardaí who followed car before M9 tragedy acted appropriately, watchdog finds
Provides the Fiosrú finding in detail, names the five teenagers who died (Joe Carthy, Jack Kennedy, Alex McCarthy, Jeremy O'Brien, Kamil Pustkowski), names the three injured sisters (Ella Hendricken, Niamh Kinsella, Alma Kinsella), describes the investigation process (CCTV, radio transmissions, forensic briefing), and includes statements from Police Ombudsman Emily Logan and Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan.
victim, Joe Carthy, male, irish (judged from name)Joe Carthyvictim, Jack Kennedy, male, irish (judged from name)Jack Kennedyvictim, Alex McCarthy, irish (judged from name)Alex McCarthyvictim, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Kamil Pustkowski, male, non-irish (judged from name)Kamil Pustkowskivictim, Ella Hendricken, female, irish (judged from name)Ella Hendrickenvictim, Niamh Kinsella, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh Kinsellavictim, Alma Kinsella, female, irish (judged from name)Alma Kinsellavictim, male - 18 Sep2026Gardaí ‘acted appropriately’ before fatal M9 crash, Fiosrú says
Provides the full Fiosrú finding, names the five teenagers killed and the injured parties, details the pursuit sequence (permission granted, pursuit terminated, stopping device attempted, U-turns), notes it was the sixth wrong-way-driving referral since 2021, and includes comments from Police Ombudsman Emily Logan and Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, plus context on social media wrong-way driving and pursuit training.
victim, Kamil Pustkowski, 17, non-irish (judged from name)Kamil Pustkowskivictim, Jack Kennedy, 17, irish (judged from name)Jack Kennedyvictim, 18, irish (judged from name)victim, 15, irish (judged from name)victim, Alex McCarthy, 17, irish (judged from name)Alex McCarthyvictim, Alma Kinsella, female, irish (judged from name)Alma Kinsellavictim, Niamh Kinsella, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh Kinsellavictim, Ella Hendricken, female, irish (judged from name)Ella Hendrickenvictim, 7, male