Subscriber

Mick Clifford: Social media is fuelling a culture where even grieving families face abuse

The abuse directed at grieving families after tragedy reflects a wider collapse in public discourse, fuelled by social media platforms

The funeral cortege for Joe Carthy, 15, one of the five teenagers who died in a motorway crash in Co Kildare last weekend.

Sat, 22 Aug, 2026 - 01:00

Mick Clifford

Mick Clifford is an award-winning investigative journalist and author of seven books.

Joe Carthy was 15. On the last day of his brief life he was involved in a terrible crime, or at least a venture that was criminal and ended with terrible consequences for an innocent family. And his own family. Just to state again, he was 15, physically, emotionally, developmentally and legally, a child.

He was the youngest of the five teenagers who were killed in the M9 crash in which a completely innocent family of four, including a seven-year-old boy, were badly injured. The primary and overwhelming sympathy in this tragedy must be extended to the innocent family whose lives have been shattered.

This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in