Remains of teen killed in M9 wrong-way crash brought to crematorium after low-key ceremony as family weep & cops look on

THE remains of one of the teens killed in the horror M9 wrong-way crash were brought to a crematorium after a low-key reposing ceremony.

Kamil Pustkowski, 17, was one of five teenagers who died when the car they were travelling in was driven the wrong way down the M9 and was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle.

He died alongside Jack Kennedy, 17, Jeremy O’Brien, 18, Joe Carthy, 15, and 16-year-old Alex McCarthy – the latter two of whom also had funeral services today.

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 Ella Hendricken, Niamh Kinsella and Alma Kinsella, as well as Alma’s seven-year-old son Yemi is set to take place in Carlow this evening, just hours after the teens’ funerals.

The crash has renewed focus on enforcement of dangerous driving, the regulation of social media content, and the provision of State care to children.

Family and friends of Pustkowski, who was killed along with four other youths when they drove the wrong way down the M9 motorway last Sunday, said their last goodbyes to him in Limerick City, Friday.

Around 30 mourners, including family and friends, attended Griffin’s Funeral Home in Limerick city where Pustkowski was reposed for about two hours.

Gardai kept a discreet watch throughout the low-key event at the undertakers.

Pustkowski’s coffin was draped with a simple white floral bouquet and a message from his family.

His family were deeply shocked at the nature of his death and were trying to come to terms with his sudden death.

A priest led Pustkowski’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.

Pustkowski’s loved ones wept and linked one another as the hearse carrying his remains left the funeral home for Shannon Crematorium, Shannon, Co Clare, where his cremation was to take place.

The low-key reposing took place without any incident.

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

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.”

Separately, McCarthy funeral also took place today at the Holy Family Church in Askea in Carlow.

His remains in a flashy blue casket was brought to the church by an elaborate white horse-drawn carriage.

Father Tom Little, the parish priest of Askea, spoke of the heartache caused by the crash – and admitted the grief was “difficult to put into words”.

In his homily, Fr Little said: “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.”