New law needed to tackle ‘lethal' wrong-way motorway driving in wake of M9 crash, says Tipperary TD

A Tipperary TD has called for deliberately driving the wrong way on a motorway to be made a separate criminal offence, following the crash on the M9 on Sunday, which claimed the lives of five teenagers. Joey Carthy (15), Jack Kennedy (17), Alex McCarthy (17), Jeremy O'Brien (18), and Kamil Pustkowski (17) all died when the car they were in crashed head-on into a family on their way to Dublin Airport for a wedding in the UK. North Tipperary TD Michael Lowry said that driving a car the wrong way down a motorway is 'lethal' and a 'serious threat' to other road users, and said that it should be made a separate offence to do so. Read more Timeline of M9 carnage: Just 20 minutes between car's first interaction with gardaí and fatal crash 'I want to condemn in the strongest possible terms that reckless criminal behaviour,' he said. 'Those who deliberately drive vehicles the wrong way down a motorway are engaged in behaviour that is lethal and is a serious threat to other road users. 'The gardaí were prepared to respond to the M9 incident using stinger equipment and other capabilities,' the north Tipperary TD said. Deputy Lowry also pointed to plans for gardaí to receive specialist pursuit training later this year, which will be the first time such training has been rolled out. 'However, no matter what laws, training or equipment are available it will always be the case that a garda must use his or her discretion to decide whether to pursue a car driving the wrong way on a motorway,' Deputy Lowry said. 'We must consider the introduction of a separate offence in respect of individuals who make a deliberate decision to drive their vehicles the wrong way on a motorway. This is using a vehicle as a weapon,' he added. Read more Government 'sleepwalking' into public service breakdown over rising fuel costs, Tipperary TD warns In a joint statement, independent Tipperary councillors John O'Heney and Liam Browne said that their thoughts are with the innocent family at this time, and called for the parents of the teenagers to be held accountable. 'You will get no support from me for robbery, driving down the wrong side of a motorway, wearing balaclavas at 3am and almost killing an innocent family,' O'Heney and Browne said. 'The gardaí should hold the parents of those responsible to account, and give the gardaí all the help and training that they need. 'Harsher punishments for serious crimes are badly needed in this country,' they added. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme