UPDATED: Five killed following Kildare motorway collision

Five people are understood to have been killed following a head-on collision on the M9 in Kildare.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has described the reckless driving of those driving the wrong way down the motorway as "appalling" as he offered his sympathies to those injured in the collision.

Gardaí in Athy are investigating the circumstances of the fatal collision at Moone that occurred on the M9 Northbound at Junction 3 (Athy) in the early hours of this morning Sunday at approximately 3am.

Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a vehicle travelling southbound on the northbound carriageway of the M9.

The vehicle was driving on the M9 between junction 3 and 4 (Castledermot) when a head on collision occurred with a second car.

An undisclosed number of fatalities have occurred but it is believed that five people have now lost their lives. They are understood to be occupants in the vehicle that was travelling the wrong way on the motorway.

It was initially thought four people had died but the body of a fifth young male has since been found at the scene.

The female driver and front passenger, both aged in her 30s of the second car have been removed from the scene to Tallaght University Hospital and both remain in critical condition.

A female rear seat passenger, aged in her 20s was taken to St Luke's General Hospital and is in a serious condition.

The third passenger, a child, has been removed to Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin and is in a serious condition.

The group are believed to be from the same family and it is understood that they were travelling from Co. Carlow and were on their way to Dublin Airport. 

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 will take place in due course.

Gardaí are appealing for any persons who may have witnessed this collision to come forward.

Gardaí are appealing to road users who were travelling on the M9 northbound or southbound between 2am and 3am this morning and who may have dashcam footage of the incident or surrounding area to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Athy Garda Station on 059 8634210, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Policing watchdog Fiosrú has announced it has also been notified of this incident in accordance with Section 203 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.

Fiosrú’s investigation relates to incidents involving contact with gardaí where a member of the public has died or been seriously injured.

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.

Speaking today, 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. 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.”

Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, has expressed her deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and those who remain seriously injured in a horrific overnight collision on the M9 motorway near Moone.

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh said: “People woke this morning to the devastating news of lives lost and others critically injured following a collision on the M9 motorway.

“The scenes are absolutely catastrophic, and my deepest sympathies go out to the families of those who have lost their lives, and for those who remain in a critical condition in hospital.

“My heart also goes out to the first responders and all of those working in our emergency services who were met with the most horrific of scenes this morning.

“The information we have learnt about the circumstances of this collision so far are disturbing - we know that one car was tracked by Gardaí travelling down the wrong side of the road, and that Fiosrú will launch its own investigation as a result of this.

“In the meantime, investigating Gardaí must immediately be furnished with all necessary resources to carry out their own investigation, and I appeal to anyone with information about the crash or who has dashcam footage to contact Gardaí as soon as possible.

“This loss of life is colossal and the effect those losses will have on their friends and families is incalculable. My thoughts are with all affected. Our state services and communities must support them in every way possible.”