Mourners gathered in Athy, County Kildare, for the final funeral of five teenage boys who died in a head-on collision after driving the wrong way down the M9 motorway. The crash, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, August 16, claimed the lives of 15-year-old Joey Carthy, 16-year-old Alex McCarthy, 17-year-old Kamil Pustkowski, 18-year-old Jeremy O'Brien, and 17-year-old Jack Kennedy.
Relatives and friends followed the cortege for Jack Kennedy's funeral at St Michael's Parish Church. The procession was observed by Garda officers, the Irish police service, amid public concern over the circumstances of the crash. Funerals for the other four teenagers had already taken place.
The other vehicle involved in the collision, which was traveling to the airport for a holiday, carried three sisters and a young boy from the same family. They sustained serious injuries in the crash.
Ireland's deputy prime minister, Simon Harris, addressed the incident, stating it points to a "breakdown in respect for authority" and the "value of life." He described the situation as multifaceted, involving social media, government, the criminal justice system, and road safety.
The crash has also raised questions about dangerous driving videos online and how social media platforms handle illegal content. TikTok had previously declined a public appearance before an Oireachtas committee, offering a private briefing to lawmakers instead.
During Jeremy O'Brien's funeral service, the officiating priest acknowledged that "what the boys did was wrong," but urged that "tragedy must not become the whole story." Attendees wore T-shirts bearing O'Brien's image. The priest spoke of a "deep sense of sadness and loss" within the community.
The Irish police maintained a visible presence in County Carlow following the incident.