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LAST UPDATE | 3 mins ago
FUNERALS WERE HELD today for three of the five teenagers who died in a wrong-way crash on the M9 last weekend.
Members of An Garda Síochána had a visible presence around all three services amid outcry over the circumstances of the crash and concern for possible disorder.
Joe Carthy, Alex McCarthy and Kamil Pustkowski died when the car they were travelling in drove the wrong way down the motorway to evade gardaí and struck another car head-on.
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 this evening in Co Carlow.
A funeral mass for Alex took place in Holy Family Church, Askea, Carlow, this afternoon.
A screen displaying a picture of Alex is displayed outside the church, while photos in gold heart-shaped frames line the entrance. A stanchion and rope barrier led the way to the church entrance, with white flowers placed around the entrance.
Alex’s grandmother read the prayers of the faithful, which included prayers for Alex and all the victims of the crash.
Delivering the homily, Father Tom Little, parish priest of Askea, said “today is a day for compassion, prayer and remembrance”.
“We come together in Holy Family Church, Askea, with heavy hearts and a deep sense of sadness. Conscious that lives have been lost, others have been injured, and families have been left to carry the grief that is so difficult to put into words,” he said.
Meanwhile, Joe’s funeral was held in Athy, Co Kildare, this morning.
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.”
Outside the service, a screen displayed pictures and videos while music played.
An Garda Síochána maintained checkpoints on the road into town, while officers were also present in the area around the church.
In the afternoon, about 30 mourners attended Griffin’s Funeral Home where Kamil was reposed for about two hours.
Gardaí kept a discreet watching brief throughout the sombre, low-key event at the Limerick City undertakers.
Kamil’s coffin was draped with a simple white floral bouquet and a message from his family.
A priest led Kamil’s family and friends in prayers around his coffin at the undertakers, before the teen’s remains were brought to a waiting black hearse at around 2.20pm.
The hearse carrying his remains left the Limerick funeral home directly for Shannon Crematorium, Shannon, Co Clare, where Kamil’s cremation was to take place.
With additional reporting from David Raleigh and PA.
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