Five teenagers have died following a horrific crash on the M9 in Co Kildare in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The teenagers were travelling in a high-powered BMW which collided head-on with a Hyundai carrying four members of an extended family.
The crash happened near the exit for Moone and Athy at around 3am.
It has since emerged that the BMW was allegedly driven on the wrong side of the motorway twice in the minutes before the fatal collision.
Sources told the Irish Mirror that Gardaí were aware of the vehicle's movements before the crash and had attempted to stop it.
It is understood that Gardaí first became aware of the BMW around 30 minutes before the collision after it was seen acting suspiciously.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but it drove onto the M9 and began travelling against the flow of traffic.
Gardaí then disengaged from the vehicle.
The BMW is understood to have later turned around and travelled in the correct direction before leaving the motorway at Junction 2A, where there is a filling station and food area.
Gardaí were reportedly preparing an operation to deploy a stinger to stop the vehicle when its occupants spotted a Garda vehicle.
The BMW then allegedly sped away, travelling the wrong way down an exit ramp before again driving against traffic on the motorway.
Gardaí did not pursue the vehicle.
Minutes later, the BMW collided head-on with the Hyundai.
All five teenagers in the BMW died in the crash.
The four people travelling in the Hyundai were seriously injured.
The family were reportedly travelling from Co Carlow towards Dublin Airport when the collision happened.
Those injured included a seven-year-old child, a woman in her 20s and two women in their 30s.
Gardaí said the two women in their 30s, who were the driver and front passenger, were taken to Tallaght University Hospital and remain in critical condition.
The woman in her 20s was taken to St Luke's General Hospital and is in a serious condition.
The child was taken to Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin and is also in a serious condition.
It is understood the child suffered a broken leg.
The BMW is also believed to have been stolen in Athy earlier that morning.
Gardaí had reportedly received information about a group of teenagers attempting to break into cars and houses in the town in the early hours.
It is understood investigators are working on the theory that the BMW was the stolen vehicle.
Sources also said that the occupants of the BMW were wearing balaclavas or masks.
The crash was so severe that Gardaí initially believed four teenagers had died, with the fifth body only discovered later in the day after specialists moved the vehicle.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has spoken about the devastating collision, as two separate investigations are now underway.
An Garda Síochána is investigating the crash itself, while independent policing watchdog Fiosrú is investigating any possible interaction between Gardaí and the vehicle before the collision.
Commissioner 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.”
He added: “This horrific incident, following the recent collision on the M50, shows how irresponsible and dangerous driving on the wrong-side of the motorway is.”
The Commissioner also said that the behaviour was particularly concerning when vehicles are deliberately driven on the wrong side of the motorway for social media attention.
He said: “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.”
Commissioner Kelly said Gardaí faced a difficult situation when dealing with vehicles travelling dangerously and confirmed that the force would fully cooperate with the Fiosrú investigation.
He added: “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.”
Fiosrú has confirmed that one of its investigators attended the scene.
The organisation said: “The referral was made following a Fatal Road Traffic Collision on the M9.”
It explained that the investigation would examine whether any act or omission by a Garda member may have contributed to the death or serious injury.
Fiosrú stressed that a referral does not mean that Gardaí have been accused of wrongdoing.
The organisation said: “A referral does not necessarily mean a garda or gardaí have been accused of wrongdoing.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
Gardaí have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or seen the BMW in the moments before the crash to come forward.
They are particularly appealing to road users who travelled on the M9 between 2am and 3am on Sunday, August 16, and who may have dashcam footage.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Athy Garda Station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
The five teenagers who died have not yet been formally named by Gardaí.
Tributes have been shared online, with friends and loved ones describing the teenagers as deeply missed.
Gardaí confirmed that the bodies of the five teenage males were removed from the scene and taken to Naas General Hospital, where post-mortem examinations will take place.
