Nicola Donnelly

Five teenagers aged 15 to 18—Jeremy O'Brien, Alex McCarthy, Joey Carthy, Jack Kennedy and Kamil Pustkowski—died after a high-powered BMW was driven the wrong way along Ireland's M9 motorway. Three women and a seven-year-old child were also seriously injured. Bereaved relatives and friends paid tribute to the victims, while Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly condemned reckless motorway driving, including incidents reportedly carried out for social-media likes.

Five teenagers died when a BMW travelling the wrong way on Ireland’s M9 collided head-on with a Hyundai carrying a family of four. The family members suffered serious injuries, including a seven-year-old boy with a broken leg, while two women remained critically ill. Police ruled out initial suspicions that the BMW had been stolen, saying it had been legitimately purchased, and Fiosrú is examining Garda contact with the vehicle before the crash. The tragedy has prompted criticism of police pursuit procedures and calls for improved enforcement against dangerous wrong-way driving.