Gardaí acted appropriately in fatal M9 motorway crash, watchdog finds

The police watchdog Fiosrú has concluded that An Garda Síochána acted appropriately during a pursuit that led to a fatal collision on the M9 motorway in County Carlow on 16 August.

The incident involved a BMW that was being pursued on the N78 in Athy. After receiving permission from the Garda Control Room, officers followed the vehicle, but the pursuit was terminated once the car entered the M9 dual carriageway. Despite attempts by other units to use stopping devices, the BMW performed several U-turns and entered the motorway against the direction of traffic.

The resulting head-on collision caused the deaths of five teenage boys in the BMW and left four family members in the oncoming vehicle seriously injured. Police Ombudsman Emily Logan stated that the force acted “in line with relevant policies and procedures as determined by the Garda Commissioner.”