Funeral held for teenager killed in wrong-way motorway crash

AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA maintained a presence around the funeral mass of a teenager who died in a wrong-way crash on the M9 last weekend.

Joe Carthy was one of five teenagers who died when the car they were travelling in was driven the wrong way down the motorway and was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle.

He died alongside Jack Kennedy, Alex McCarthy, Jeremy O’Brien and Kamil Pustkowski.

A child and three women from the same family, who were in the other car, are being treated for serious injuries in hospital.

A vigil in support of the family, who were on the way to Dublin Airport for a holiday, is to take place on Friday evening.

Joe’s funeral began in Athy, Co Kildare, this morning, where the garda had a visible presence in the town amid outcry over the circumstances of the crash and concern for possible disorder.

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The coffin arrived at the church on a white horse-drawn carriage.

Mourners followed the coffin into the church, wearing white T-shirts depicting an image of the boy while others raised framed photographs.

The priest extended “sincere sympathy to Joe’s family”, adding: “We gather with sorrow in our hearts.”

An Garda Síochána maintained checkpoints on the road into town, while officers were also present in the area around the church.

Outside the service, a screen displayed pictures and videos while music played. Blue carpet led the way to the church steps, with white flowers placed around the entrance.

A funeral mass for Alex is scheduled to take place in Holy Family Church, Askea, Carlow, this afternoon.

Elsewhere in Carlow on Friday evening, a vigil will be held for three sisters – Ella Hendricken and Niamh and Alma Kinsella – as well as a young boy who were the occupants of the other vehicle.