Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0320Endangerment of life, motor theft, dangerous driving · Co. Dublin · 18 May 2026

Teenage friend of M9 crash victims pleads guilty to joyriding charges on M50

A 17-year-old boy, a teenage friend of five youths killed in the M9 crash at Moone, Co Kildare on 16 August 2026, pleaded guilty to endangerment of life and motor theft at Dublin Children's Court on 8 September 2026. The charges relate to a 33-minute wrong-way chase on the M50 in Dublin on the night of 18 May 2026, during which he drove a stolen Toyota Aqua through heavy traffic in poor weather and failed to stop for blockade attempts and stinger devices. He still has to enter pleas to 10 connected dangerous driving charges, and the case resumes in October. A second youth who was a passenger in the car avoided prosecution through the Garda Youth Diversion Programme. The boy, who has no prior criminal record, remains on bail.

  1. Reported22 Aug
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court8 Sep
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 17-year-old boy led gardaí on a 33-minute wrong-way chase on the M50 in Dublin in a stolen Toyota Aqua on the night of 18 May 2026, failing to stop for blockade attempts and stinger devices in heavy traffic, poor weather, wet road, and darkness.
  • Five teenagers were killed in a BMW that drove the wrong way up the M9 at Moone, Co Kildare, crashing into a Hyundai in the early hours of 16 August 2026, and three women and a seven-year-old boy were seriously injured.
Where
The joyriding chase started in Tallaght and took place on the M50 in Dublin, while the fatal M9 crash occurred at Moone, Co Kildare.
When
The joyriding incident occurred on the night of 18 May 2026, and the M9 crash occurred in the early hours of 16 August 2026.
Investigation
Gardaí were closely monitoring the crimes of Pustkowski and Kennedy and carrying out multiple investigations at the time of their deaths, including securing data from Pustkowski's TikTok accounts and awaiting forensic results to link Kennedy to a stolen Ford Ranger in a Carlow incident.
Charges
The 17-year-old boy was charged with endangerment of life, motor theft, and 10 connected dangerous driving charges.
In court
  • The boy pleaded guilty to endangerment of life and motor theft at Dublin Children's Court on 8 September 2026, and the case resumes in October.
  • The second youth, a passenger in the car, avoided prosecution through the Garda Youth Diversion Programme.
Other details
  • The boy has no prior criminal record and remains on bail.
  • Pustkowski and Kennedy were considered among the top 10 most prolific young offenders on the roads of the Republic and had been discussed at Garda meetings about the most serious and dangerous offending across the country.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPustkowski recorded himself engaging in dangerous driving including wrong-way driving on motorways where head-on crashes were narrowly avoided. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí expected Kennedy would have faced charges over a near-fatal incident in Carlow where a stolen Ford Ranger was driven over a motorcyclist. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe BMW the teenagers were in drove the wrong way up the M9 at Moone, Co Kildare, and crashed into a Hyundai. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAll five teenagers in the BMW were killed in the crash at about 3am. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe car chase lasted 33 minutes. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe chase included two periods on the M50 motorway, both entered via slip roads in the wrong direction. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe teenager failed to stop for blockade attempts and stinger devices. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe vehicle was a stolen Toyota Aqua. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThere was another youth as a passenger in the car. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatConditions during the chase included heavy traffic, poor weather, wet road and darkness. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boy has no prior criminal record. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe M9 crash killed five youths and seriously injured three women and a seven-year-old boy. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThough based mostly in Dublin, Pustkowski committed offences across the country, often multiple times each week, as far as Monaghan. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe chase started in Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe joyriding incident occurred on the night of 18 May 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe M9 crash occurred in the early hours of 16 August 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí were closely monitoring their crimes and carrying out multiple investigations into them at the time of their deaths. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí investigating Pustkowski's crimes had secured an order to secure all data related to his multiple TikTok accounts. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationKennedy had been arrested on the day of the Carlow incident but had abandoned the vehicle by the time he was detained. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí were awaiting forensic testing results to link Kennedy and three others to the Ranger before they could be charged. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe still has to enter pleas to 10 connected dangerous driving charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe 17-year-old pleaded guilty to endangerment of life and motor theft at Dublin Children's Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe second youth avoided prosecution through the Garda Youth Diversion Programme. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe boy remains on bail. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case resumes in October. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTwo of the five teenagers killed in the M9 crash were regarded by gardaí as among the most prolific and problematic joyriders in the State. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPustkowski and Kennedy had been discussed at Garda meetings about the most serious and dangerous offending across the country. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPustkowski and Kennedy were considered among the top 10 most prolific young offenders on the roads of the Republic. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPustkowski was cremated at Shannon Crematorium, Shannon, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe injured occupants were travelling from Carlow to Dublin Airport to fly to Britain for a family wedding. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Sep2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Friend of teens who died in M9 crash pleads guilty after wrong-way chase on M50

    First report of the guilty plea; 10 further dangerous driving charges pending; case resumes in October; second youth diverted via Youth Diversion Programme.

    accused, 17, malesuspect
  2. 22 Aug2026
    Reportedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Teenagers killed on M9 regarded as among most prolific and dangerous joyriders countrywide

    Provides background on Pustkowski and Kennedy as prolific joyriders, details ongoing Garda investigations into their crimes (TikTok data order for Pustkowski, forensic testing pending for Kennedy over a Carlow incident), and reports on funerals and a vigil for the injured.

    victim, Kamil Pustkowski, 17, male, non-irish (judged from name)Kamil Pustkowskivictim, Jack Kennedy, 17, male, irish (judged from name)Jack Kennedyvictim, 18, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 15, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Alex McCarthy, 17, male, irish (judged from name)Alex McCarthyvictim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, Niamh Kinsella, female, irish (judged from name)Niamh Kinsellavictim, Ella Hendricken, female, irish (judged from name)Ella Hendrickenvictim, 7, malevictim