There was a heavy police presence for the funeral mass of 18-year-old Jeremy O’Brien.
Mourners at the funeral of a teenager who was one of five young people killed in a horror crash in Ireland has heard that “what the boys did was wrong”, but that “tragedy” must not become the whole story, as the priest asked for prayers for those who were injured and who died.
There was a heavy police presence for the funeral mass of 18-year-old Jeremy O’Brien who was killed in the crash on the M9 in Co Kildare last weekend.
Garda checkpoints, as well as various garda vehicles, including the Public Order Unit, were in place in Carlow town where the funeral took place on Monday.
Armed garda detectives were stationed at garda checkpoints on the roads leading to The Holy Family Church in Askea.
Mr O’Brien is the fourth of the five teenagers killed in the crash to be buried in recent days.
He died alongside Jack Kennedy, Kamil Pustkowski, Joe Carthy and Alex McCarthy 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.
The funeral of Jack, a 17-year-old from Athy in Co Kildare, is expected to take place on Tuesday.
A child and three women from the same family, who were in the other car, are being treated for serious injuries in hospital.
The family were on the way to Dublin Airport for a holiday.
Mr O’Brien’s funeral took place in Carlow town, where the Irish police service had a visible presence in the town amid outcry over the circumstances of the crash and concern for possible disorder.
Young men wore T-shirts with a picture of Mr O’Brien emblazoned on the front.
Fr Tom Little told mourners that there is a “deep sense of sadness and loss”.
“We pray for those who have been injured and mourn those who have died,” he said in his homily.
“The death of a young person is always difficult to accept.
“There is something especially sad about a young life being taken suddenly, unexpectedly and before so many hopes and dreams have been realised.
“Today our grief and sadness is made even heavier because this was an accident that affected not just one person alone.
“Several lives have been lost and others have been seriously injured.
“Families have been changed forever.
“There are people in hospital fighting to recover, and there are families who are beginning the painful journey of learning to live with an empty place at their table.
“At times like this, we are left with no words to express our sadness and loss.
“Today, we give thanks for the gift of life, however short it may have been.
“We entrust our loved ones who have gone before us into the merciful hands of God, acknowledging that what the boys did was wrong. But we must not allow tragedy to become the whole story as we pray for those who were injured and those who have died.”
Among those prayed for were the doctors and nurses caring for those who were injured in the accident, wishing them a “full and speedy recovery”.
