Garda Ombudsman investigating motorway head-on collision

An independent investigation is under way (PA)

The Garda Ombudsman is investigating a head-on collision on a Dublin motorway which left nine people injured.

Gardaí said a young male was critically ill after the incident on the M50 at about 5.30am on Sunday, and eight others were injured.

They said they had been alerted to a vehicle with eight occupants travelling north on the southbound carriageway of the M50 at junction 12 at Firhouse.

“The vehicle was driving down the up ramp at junction 12 when it collided head on with a car,” they said, adding that eight young males in the car were taken to hospital for treatment, and one was in a critical condition.

The driver of the second car, a man in his 20s, was also seriously injured.

Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, was notified about the incident.

It investigates incidents involving contact with gardaí where a member of the public has died or been seriously injured.

On Monday Fiosrú said a team of its investigators attended the scene, and that an independent investigation was ongoing.

A spokesperson said: “A referral does not necessarily mean a garda or gardaí have been accused of wrongdoing.

“Instead, it means that Fiosrú should independently investigate the incident to ascertain whether or not the act or omission of a garda or gardaí may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person.

“As the matter is now under investigation, pursuant to section 208(1)(b) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, Fiosrú cannot make any further comment.”