Jeremy O'Brien funeral hears 'families changed forever'

Mourners at the funeral of a teenager who was one of five young people killed in a horror crash in Ireland has heard that "what the boys did was wrong", but that "tragedy" must not become the whole story.

There was a heavy police presence for the funeral mass of 18-year-old Jeremy O'Brien who was killed in the crash on the M9 in Co Kildare last weekend.

Garda checkpoints, as well as various garda vehicles, including the Public Order Unit, were in place in Carlow town where the funeral took place on Monday.

Armed garda detectives were stationed at garda checkpoints on the roads leading to The Holy Family Church in Askea.

The funeral mass for the teenager took place at the Holy Family Church, Askea, just outside Carlow town centre.

Parish Priest Fr Tom Little told mourners they had gathered with a "deep sense of sadness and loss".

He also prayed for those who had been injured and said they are mourning those who have died.

Fr Little said: "Today, our grief and sadness is made even heavier because this was an accident that affected not just one person alone.

"Several lives have been lost, and others have been seriously injured. Families have been changed forever. There are people in hospital fighting to recover, and there are families who are beginning the painful journey of learning to live with an empty place at their table.

"At times like this we are left with no words to express our sadness and loss.".

"Today, we give thanks for the gift of life, however short it may have been.

"We entrust our loved ones who have gone before us into the merciful hands of God, acknowledging that what the boys did was wrong. But we must not allow tragedy to become the whole story as we pray for those who were injured and those who have died," he added.

During the Prayers of the Faithful, Fr Little also prayed for the emergency services who attended the scene of the collision, the doctors and nurses who are caring for those injured, and for all road users to be careful and respectful on the road.

The five teenagers died after the car they were travelling in was driven down the wrong side of the M9 motorway in the early hours of Sunday 16 August.

Four people - three sisters and a seven-year-old boy - in the other car were either critically or seriously injured in the collision.

The funerals of 15-year-old Joe Carthy, 17-year-old Alex McCarthy and 17-year-old Kamil Pustkowski were held on Friday.

The funeral mass for 17-year-old Jack Kennedy will take place in St Michael’s Church in Athy, Co Kildare, tomorrow morning.

Hundreds of people attended a prayer vigil at in St Clare's Church in Graiguecullen, Co Carlow, on Friday evening for the four people who were injured in the collision.

Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty told those who had gathered how much the prayer vigil would mean to them and their family.

However, he said the five teenagers in the other car should also be remembered, as that was the Christian thing to do.

Bishop Nulty called on people to be careful with their language, and their use of social media.

Jeremy O'Brien was buried in the nearby St Mary's Cemetery following his funeral mass.