Garda Commissioner condemns reckless behaviour for 'social media likes' in wake of horror crash

The deceased were in a car driven the wrong way on the northbound side of the M9, into oncoming traffic at around 3am.

The vehicle collided with another car, carrying four occupants from the same family, who were on their way to Dublin Airport.

The occupants of the car driving the wrong way are understood to have died, while those in the other vehicle suffered serious injury.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said, "My thoughts are with those injured in this morning’s collision on the M9. These family members were travelling innocently when they were struck by a vehicle being driven the wrong way down the motorway.

"This horrific incident, following the recent collision on the M50, shows how irresponsible and dangerous driving on the wrong side of the motorway is. 

"That, of course, should be self-evident, but what makes this reckless behaviour even more appalling is that in some cases it is being done for social media likes regardless of the potentially devastating impact it might have on innocent people and themselves.

"As this particular incident has been referred to Fiosrú, the Police Ombudsman, I am constrained in what I can say in detail about this incident, but I know that Gardaí do what they can to stop such vehicles while also taking into consideration all other road users," Commissioner Kelly added.

"Gardaí are put in a really challenging situation dealing with such incidents. 

"As always, An Garda Síochána will fully cooperate with the Police Ombudsman investigation, which I hope is completed as expeditiously as possible.

"My thoughts are also with all members of An Garda Síochána and the emergency services who had to deal with this awful incident this morning. Such incidents show the difficult work we ask our gardaí to undertake every day to keep our communities safe.”

The female driver of the airport-bound car and a front passenger, both aged in their 30s, were rushed to Tallaght University Hospital and remain in a “critical condition”, according to gardaí.

A female rear seat passenger, aged in her 20s, was taken to St Luke's General Hospital and is in a “serious condition”, as is the third passenger - a child - who was rushed to Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin.

Local councillors say nearby residents are “devastated” for all those involved.

Athy Municipal District councillor Brian Dooley said: “People are devastated and shocked to hear what has happened, especially to that family heading to the airport.

“Nobody can imagine what it is like to get a knock at the door to say that your loved one is seriously injured in hospital.

“Added to that, nobody wants to get a knock on the door to be told their child has been killed in a car crash.

“There is definitely a huge amount of shock in the area over this."

It was reported that some of the teenagers may have been masked, and that gardaí were investigating if they had been involved in attempts to break into cars earlier in the day.

Fellow councillor Ivan Keatley said: “All our thoughts and prayers and heartfelt sympathies are with the families of all those involved.” 

Gardaí have confirmed they were alerted to “a vehicle travelling southbound on the northbound carriageway of the M9” moments before the cars collided.

At least two investigations are now underway into the incident.

The section of the M9 from Junction 3 to Junction 4 northbound and southbound remains closed with local diversions in place.

A Garda Forensic Collision examination is underway.

The Office of the Police Ombudsman Fiosrú has launched an investigation, and one of its on-call team of investigators has attended the scene.