During his sermon at the Mass for Jeremy "Bobbles" O’Brien, Parish Priest Fr Tom Little told mourners: "We acknowledge what the boys did was wrong [but] we must not allow tragedy to become the only story…"
All five teenagers in the car were killed, and the four members of the same family traveling in the car they hit are still in hospital. Jeremy "Bobbles" O’Brien was buried yesterday.
Mourners at the 18-year-old’s funeral, in the Church of the Holy Family, Askea, Carlow Town, were told by Fr Little: "The sun shines on Jeremy today welcoming him to the joy of heaven. ‘In times like this, we are left with no words that can express our sadness and love. We acknowledge what the boys did was wrong [but] we must not allow tragedy to become the only story as we pray for those who were injured and who died."
It was the fourth funeral of five teenagers who died nine days ago, after their BMW ploughed head-on into a Hyundai car carrying three sisters and a little boy on their way to Dublin Airport to catch an early-morning flight to a family wedding in the UK.
Jeremy died alongside Alex McCarthy, 16, Joe "Joey" Carthy, 15, and 17-year-olds Kamil Pustkowski and Jack Kennedy.
The crash happened between junctions 3 and 4, close to Moone, Co. Kildare, on Sunday, August 16. The funerals of McCarthy, Carthy and Pustkowski were held last Friday in Athy, Co. Kildare, Carlow town and Limerick.
The site of the M9 motorway crash.
Three sisters, Alma and Niamh Kinsella, and Ella Hendricken, along with Alma’s seven-year-old son, were all seriously injured in the crash. Mourners began to gather 30 minutes before Jeremy O’Brien’s 11 am Requiem Mass yesterday as gardaí kept a heavy but discreet presence, along with the public order unit.
Mr O’Brien’s coffin was adorned with a large white floral wreath and a photo of the teenager. Fr Little said: "Today, as we gather with a deep sense of sadness and loss, we pray for those who have been injured and mourn those who have died.
"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.
Pallbearers carrying the coffin of Jeremy O'Brien.
"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."
Family, friends and members of the public wept openly as two of O’Brien’s brothers, Felix and Jamie, read prayers of the faithful. Prayers were offered for the emergency responders who dealt with the horrific aftermath of the collision, doctors and nurses who are caring for the injured, and for safety on the country’s roads.
The brothers lovingly touched Jeremy’s coffin as they passed the church altar.
The teenager is survived by his mother, Margaret; brothers, Jamie, Felix, Myles and Vincent; grandparents, Mary and Felix; uncles, Patrick and Myles; cousins; extended family; and friends.
Many mourners wore white T-shirts with a photo of Jeremy on the front and the words: "Rip Cuz. Gone But Not Forgotten. Forever 18."
The mood inside and outside the church remained serene and respectful. Floral tributes with the names, Jeremy, his nickname, Bobbles, son, and cuz, formed part of a large number of flowers.
The funeral of Jeremy O'Brien.
Six pallbearers carried his coffin from the church to a black carriage drawn by two horses, which carried his remains the short distance to St Mary’s Cemetery.
The funeral of Jack Kennedy is due to take place today, at St Michael’s Parish Church, Athy, at 11am, with a private cremation afterward. He is survived by his mother Sarah, sisters Keeleigh and Sarahkate, nephew Boé, family and friends.
The condition of sisters Alma and Niamh Kinsella is said to be improving at Tallaght University Hospital, while their younger sister, Ella Hendricken, is still being treated for serious injuries at St Vincent’s University Hospital after being transferred from St Luke’s Hospital, in Kilkenny.
Friends have said they face a long road to recovery. It is understood that Alma’s son, seven-year-old Yemi, is being treated at Crumlin Children’s Hospital for a broken leg.
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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