Funeral services have been held for Joe Carthy, 15, for 16-year-old Alex McCarthy, and Kamil Pustkowski (17) who all died with two others in a horror crash on the M9 in the early hours of last Sunday morning when the care they were travelling in drove down the wrong way of the motorway and collided with a car carrying a family on their way to Dublin Airport who were left critically and seriously injured.
The funeral mass for Alex McCarthy took place at 3pm today in Holy Family Church, Askea, Carlow, where the homily was delivered by parish priest Fr Tom Little.
In a notice to the media, the parish had asked specifically that photographers and media cameras not attend within the church before or during the funeral, “nor at any time on the church grounds, thereby respecting the solemnity of the Funeral Mass, the wishes of the family, and the dignity of mourners.” The Mass was not livestreamed.
The teen’s body was brought to the church in Carlow in a white horse-drawn carriage and a white carpet and gold handrails were laid out at the entrance, while a large outdoor screen showing photos and videos of Alex McCarthy was parked outside the church.
Fr Little told the congregation: “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.”
“A tragic accident can happen in seconds and the result of it can last a lifetime. These types of accidents bring a deep sense of shock, anger, questions, regret, and even a sense of disbelief.”
“Words cannot express the true feelings of our heart, so today is a day for compassion, prayer, and remembrance,” he said.
“We remember in our prayers those who have been injured and pray that they may make a good recovery. Thanking God that they have survived. Thanking God for the emergency services, doctors, nurses and ambulance staff and all who care for the sick,” Fr Little continued.
“We remember those who have died to this world, knowing that each life is God’s great gift to each one of us, to be treasured and respected. Those who have died were loved by their family and friends. Their absence leaves a space that cannot simply be filled. We remember families on both sides of the accident to God in prayer. We are bringing today our human emotions of hurt, loss, confusion, sadness, responsibilities, in prayer to God,” he told mourners.
Fr Little also relayed a message from Alex McCarthy’s parents, Lucelle and Edward, who asked that mourners pray for the recovery of those left seriously injured by the collision, and for the other families who lost sons in the crash.
At the Prayers of the Faithful, the priest said “We pray for Alex, that God may welcome him to the joy of Heaven,” and asked for prayers for all the families affected by the accident.
Earlier, the funeral mass for the youngest of those who had been killed, 15-year-old Joey Carthy, took place in Athy, Co Kildare.
A white horse-drawn carriage also brought his body to St Michael’s Church, where mourners had brought an outdoor screen showing photos of his life.
Joey Carthy
“The funeral was quiet and subdued and there was a large attendance” the Irish Independent reported.
Kamil Pustkowski (17), who had an address in Limerick, was reposed at Griffin’s Funeral Home in the city today for about two hours.
Local media said that the teenager’s coffin was draped with a simple white floral bouquet and that a priest led the family in prayer before the remains were brought by hearse to Shannon Crematorium in Co Clare at around 2.20pm.
Kamil Pustkowski
Meanwhile, thousands of people continue to donate to a GoFundMe campaign launched this week, for the three sisters and a seven-year-old boy seriously injured in the motorway collision following what has been described as an “incredibly difficult and frightening” ordeal.
Friend of the family, Bryan Curley, stated that the victims are facing a “long and challenging road ahead.”