These are the three sisters who sustained horrific injuries after they were involved in a head-on collision with a gang of youths driving the wrong way down the motorway.

Niamh and Alma Kinsella, who are in their 30s, their sister Ella Hendricken, who is in her 20s, were seriously injured in the crash along their young nephew after a group of joyriders drove the wrong way down the M9 motorway in Co Kildare in the early hours of Sunday.

The crash claimed the lives of five teenage boys – Joey Carthy (15) from Athy, Co. Kildare, Alex McCarthy (17) from Carlow, Jack Kennedy (17) from Athy, Co. Kildare, Kamil Pustkowski (17) from Limerick and Jeremy O’Brien (18) from Carlow who were travelling in a stolen BMW that was driving the wrong way on the motorway.

Sisters Alma and Niamh Kinsella were in the front seats of the second car, while their younger sister Ella Hendricken and her nephew were in the back. The family had been on their way to Dublin Airport to attend a wedding in England.

All four remain in hospital with serious injuries. Alma and Niamh are being treated in Tallaght University Hospital, while Ella was transferred from St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny to St Vincent’s University Hospital.

The young boy is receiving specialist care at Children’s Health Ireland in Crumlin.

The incident has left Carlow ‘bereft with sadness’, according to Fr Tom Little of Askea parish, who has been in contact with the family.

‘It is a terrible, sad event,’ he said. ‘Everybody is hoping that those that are injured will make a full recovery.’

Local representatives echoed the shock felt across the area. Councillor Paul Doogue described the crash as ‘life‑changing’ for the family involved, while Carlow mayor Ken Murnane said the community was ‘devastated by what’s happened’.

Sympathies have also been extended to the families of the five teenagers who died, with councillors noting the tragedy on ‘many levels’ and the impact on emergency services who attended the scene.

Tusla confirmed it is working with partner organisations to support families and communities affected, while gardaí continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash.