8 teenagers in one car that crashed

[Fromhere1]

So they were driving the wrong way on a motorway and crashed in to a single driver. At 5.30am. Apparently the car was stolen. I'm seeing photos on tiktok and they look to be very young.

Where the hell are the parents in this?! I'm seeing tiktoks where the families of these 8 boys are asking for prayers, etc. I wonder if they feel any shame at all?! Or is that an emotion they are unfamiliar with.

I think these parents need to be held accountable in some way... My sympathy lies entirely with the driver of the other car.

This thread started a week ago, after 9 people were injured by a car carrying 8 passengers and driving on the wrong side of a ramp on the M50 crashed into a single occupant car driving in the correct direction @Bloozie
The driver of the second car was injured and hospitalised.
There was a second crash as you know the following Sunday in which 5 teenagers were killed.

The law in general only works proactively to steer mainly-decent people away from making bad decisions, once they realise that it's illegal and thus - in their minds - simply not something that they 'can' do, or that is at least in any way a wise thing for them to do. Once people decide that the law doesn't apply to them, the only recourse is for them to go ahead and disregard the law and then (where possible) be punished reactively afterwards.

It would be marvellous if we could all leave our doors unlocked when we go on holiday, safe in the knowledge that trespassing and burglary are illegal, so we don't need to worry about anybody doing it... but the real world is not like that at all.

One of the families put up an RIP notice last night but it had to be removed as the volume of messages saying they only had sympathy for the injured, etc was massive. I wonder do these families understand why people are so angry and frustrated?

Apparently these teenagers are boys that had come to Garda attention countless times... Guards have said that the parents just didn't care. Tusla were involved. There are no consequences to them shoplifting, stealing, being abusive to animals, speeding, dangerous driving, I could go on... sure baiting the Guards is entertainment for them. What's one more juvenile caution?

And for all those who say 'ah the parents didn't know, we were all young once, have some conpassion' I think that attitude might be part of the problem? We are too soft.

Some Gardai have been arrested and charged for reckless/dangerous driving whilst pursuing these scumbags. I kid you not, that's what's happening out there. The minute a Garda is involved in pursuit and something happens the matter is immediately referred to the independent investigators (Fiosru).

I'm not saying that reckless pursuit should not be checked out, but if the Gardai are in fear of losing their driving license or being banned.get a conviction etc. is it any wonder they back off from these thugs?

I'm beginning to wonder on whose behalf the lawmakers actually make laws now. Seems to me that the law abiding citizen is the one paying the price every time, and the thugs and teenage warriors have every protection going. Not good IMV. More balance is needed.

Jim O'Callaghan needs to get tough and look after everyone, not just the sacred castes. I for one am sick of it. I'd get points on my license for speed breaches and would lose said license for reckless or drink driving. Some people don't because.....?

It's horrific that some of these lads committed so many serious crimes - hundreds as according to the newspaper article that was linked - and yet they were still allowed to roam freely, with only occasional stints in prison.

If the authorities themselves make it crystal clear that abiding by the law is optional and it's all 'just a bit of a laugh' which won't trouble your life too much if you don't bother, it's not hard to understand how the lawless miscreants themselves receive this message loud and clear. It's actually almost an invitation to this kind of person to do so.

What's the actual point in having prisons in the first place if people can commit hundreds of crimes - these were relatively young people too, so it's not even like they were spread out over a number of decades - if they aren't kept there to protect innocent people from all the harms and dangers of their avowedly chosen criminal lifestyles? What more do you have to do to make it utterly manifest that you don't want to be part of decent society, but still be allowed to roam free in that society?

The snake is probably out of the box now, with the decades-long refusal to do anything. The law is for everybody, regardless of ethnic background. I can maybe understand in the case of uncontacted tribes who live separated from the majority population, as they and their families have done for centuries; but you can't enjoy all of the privileges and benefits of a society yet still decide that the responsibilities just don't apply to you.

All of the decent members of that community are being betrayed too, by ending up tarred with the same brush as the criminals.

I'd get points on my license for speed breaches and would lose said license for reckless or drink driving. Some people don't because.....?

In this case, they didn't have licences to lose.

I'd get points on my license for speed breaches and would lose said license for reckless or drink driving. Some people don't because.....?

I suppose, if you don't even bother to wait until you're old enough to qualify for and legitimately obtain a licence in the first place, nobody can take away from you or negatively endorse what you don't actually have.

That's true about them not bothering with mandatory driving lessons and doing a test to obtain a license. However, I think you know what I mean, it's all wrong one way or another.

The law abiding citizen who does everything by the book can lose a license, max out points over time which is not right, but there are sanctions. The thugs and scumbags can basically do what they like though. Gardai are not going to pursue them as I said above, and there's nowhere to incarcerate them anyway in the rare chance that they get some sort of sentence.

I read this morning that the Min Justice is considering a new law making it illegal to drive the wrong way on a motorway. Well Holy God, who knew that was/is actually LEGAL at the moment! No point, it will be ignored by the target audience anyway for all the reasons already stated.

https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/justice-minister-moves-to-criminalise-wrong-way-motorway-driving

Oh the irony 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣🙄

I agree, @ParsleySageToiletDuckAndBinBags - I often think, when I'm watching these programmes about the police catching speeders, drink drivers etc, and they stop a prolific offender, and he gets points on his licence, or disqualified or whatever, that that's pretty meaningless because the lawless individuals who are committing these offences aren't going to pay any attention to their licence being revoked. It seems symbolic, more than having any actual effect.

”…….I'm beginning to wonder on whose behalf the lawmakers actually make laws now.
Seems to me that the law abiding citizen is the one paying the price every time and the thugs and teenage warriors have every protection going. Not good IMV. More balance is needed.
Jim O’ Callaghan needs to get tough and look after everyone not just the sacred castes. I for one am sick of it…..”
Great post.
I fully agree with you @parallolo

A quick Google of Travellers and Carlow (for example as it is where some of these boys are from) will show you that there are a number of programmes set up to help Travellers to access education, supports, etc. I clicked on one or two out of interest and they emphasised how they try to always have Traveller representation. These initiatives would be funded by the taxpayer.

Travellers often live in Social Housing - they have very high unemployment rates. These houses would be paid for by the taxpayer. I would love to know that there are Travellers working and paying tax - it would be fantastic to see them contributing and being part of the community. But it is hard for them to work when their 'culture' seems to be to leave education early, marry young, and to keep to themselves.

I work in a school and we have Traveller children - they are often absent. But when they are in school they get a lot of additional support which would not be available to other kids. These kids and their parents are treated with the same respect we would show anyone.

The five boys who died all have come to Garda attention repeatedly... Their families would be able to avail of Free Legal Aid....as funded by - you guessed it - the taxpayer.

This terrible road crash should prompt a conversation within the Traveller Community as to how they can try to stop this reckless behaviour....instead they will probably focus on the victim narrative as per your post.

Irish travellers are Irish and always have been.

I think you’re getting confused with a different culture.

And you and your like are the very reason our society is in the mess it is in. Making excuses for naughty/bad/ appalling/evil behaviour. If we don't teach children from a young age that their behaviour is unacceptable and has consequences then you end up with awful adults. If adults keep making excuses then we are telling children to do as they please. You are the problem.

Sorry but I can and do judge these absolute scum.

Don't make excuses for them They chose to drive the wrong way down a motorway and didn't realise that they could injure or kill themselves and, more importantly, other innocent people?

I have every sympathy for the people in the other care but none whatsoever for the 5 waste of space pieces of shit

‘As of August 18, 2026, major Traveller advocacy and support organisations in Ireland—have not issued public statements or commentary regarding the fatal M9 crash in County Kildare.

Public commentary on the incident has instead come directly from state leaders, local clergy, and policing representatives:’

Not a peep, fuckers !

’Now we have established that gardai are satisfied the BMW was not stolen, but had been bought by one of the teens' associates for just €1100.

It was bought legitimately from a man in Carlow.

Sources say one reason gardaí suspected it had been stolen is that it was not registered in any of the names of the five teens who were in the car when it crashed.

But it emerged that a close associate of one of the teens had actually bought the car from a foreign national.

Officers initially suspected that the teens had stolen the car after gardai received reports of young suspects trying to break into vehicles and houses in Athy at around 2am on Sunday.’

I'm absolutely loving the lovely innocent pictures the media released of the boys, the mates and family who are of identical thinking released the real photos, the ones with them in their favourite item of clothing the balaclava! Sure you only have look at their FB pages to see the real them. The media had to do a deep dive to root out those 'innocent' photos. Shame on the media for not reporting on the real victims !!! and flooding the internet with these photos.

I'm Sick reading about how hard done by the Irish travellers are, how bad they're treated by society and never included. Their culture is to stick together, this is how they are raised, it takes a hell of a lot for an outsider to be included in their circle.

They don't work, you don't walk into Tesco and see them on the checkout or packing shelves, they're not flipping burgers in McDonald's, they're not solicitors or doctors. They leave school early this is their way, the boys are taken under the wing of the father's and uncles and shown how to provide for their family, they are brought the length and breath of Ireland and rob, they rob everything, they have scam businesses, their income comes from robbing. The girls finish school early too, they're shown how to keep their soon to be husband happy and how to run a home. No one wants an education, if they do they're talked out of it. They all marry young, have kids young, they claim this is their culture but in reality and some cases it's underage relationships.

They claim that mental health is something they don't talk about, that's because they are of dinosaur thinking that men, even women but more men don't discuss their feelings as it's not manly. The suicide rates are one of highest in their culture, that's really because they are married so so young then kids then having to provide for your enormous family which is difficult as you don't work, the pressure of having to flaunt their wealth constantly, everything has to be bigger than your family and friends you only have to see their gift giving at Easter and Christmas, floor to ceiling with gifts, everything designer, they all wear designer clothes and shoes, have their Rolex and really expensive jewellery, the kids get about 40 Easter eggs and chocolate plus gifts each. Christmas you can't even see their furniture or floor with the amount of gifts.

It'll be who can do the biggest funeral now, those heart and picture stands are so expensive, they line the church and outside, the gold coffin, the biggest of everything. There's us choosing the cheapest option, what we can afford cashing in life insurance and hoping we have enough and there's them paying cash for big fuck off funeral's!! Hard done by, I don't think so, this is how they have done things and it won't change and they are never going to give a shit about anyone they've hurt or injured, sure you only have to see how violent they are towards each other.

You make a good point @DebbieSavagethe prejudice is there but most people are drawing on their own experiences too. I really feel for those in the community that want out and want to better themselves, and are met with hate from both sides. That's why there are so many services, to help those that want to break the cycle. I wholeheartedly support those brave individuals.

I think this is a good time to build bridges. The only way that can happen now is if representatives of the community condemn this behaviour and put forward a plan or list of goals relating to addressing criminal and violent behaviour from within the community. They can't ensure compliance of course, but they can try, and they can reform or police from within. The ball is in their court now. People are free to live as they wish within the limits of the law of the land, they don't need to fully integrate or compromise their culture. Other minorities and ethnicities do it all the time. But no one of any background gets permission to act above and outside the law and claim that is their culture. If they don't take this action either as outspoken individuals or in a more formal way in the next few weeks, then this (to me) will be seen as the final straw in terms of tolerance. From reading other posts here, I don't think I'm alone in that view.

Most people I know think good riddance to the lot of them. It doesn't matter what community they come from. They deliberately set out to murder innocent people on the road.

Fuck me but this discussion here and in the media is depressing.

The fuckers went out without a thought in their heads about anyone except themselves so no i dont care that the got killed in the process. Its no different to stepping out in front of a lorry and blaming the lorry.

The lack of critical analysis by people in general, the government and the gardai is staggering. They've been doing it for years but because they took out a family we must now act. FFS outrageous

I would not feel sorry for them no matter where they came from or what group they belong to the fact is they went out in balaclavas in a car be it stolen or given (to a group of teens ffs) and purposely went the wrong way down a motorway knowing they could cause harm. All I hope is that some will learn from this but absolutely no pity for anyone bar the 4 innocents in the other car.

The media in this country is terrified of being accused of racism. Their reporting is always vague on the background of certain individuals and the word Traveller is not mentioned anywhere in proceedings, well not that I can see. That would be racist even though Travellers are not a race but an ethnic group. Enda Kenny started all this and Travellers capitalised on it by labelling anyone who was negative towards them as racist.

Similar is happening WRT asylum and illegal immigrants who commit heinous crimes. No one says they are just guests in our country and benefitting from our generosity and largesse. Not a word, but it's not the same if a citizen commits a crime. Any negativity towards irregular immigrants (no visa/passport) is constantly given the racist moniker.

The Government for some reason actively supports this lack of transparency. So the law abiding citizen is muzzled and the criminals stay anonymous for the most part, well their background does.

It's all a bit like the trans situation. Say a word against that cohort i.e. you don't believe men can be women etc. and immediately you are silenced by being called "transphobic" and are in danger of losing your job the next day.

Something or someone has decided that we shouldn't discuss this openly. I just fail to understand why. Does anyone know or have a clue about this complete stifling of debate when Travellers and irregular immigrants are involved, because both seem to have inordinate protection in the media and by Government. Baffled.