Issue Date: 18/09/2026
An Garda Síochána welcomes the finding by Fiosrú, Office of the Police Ombudsman that "Gardaí who followed a vehicle prior to its involvement in a fatal head on collision on the M9 motorway in county Kildare acted in accordance with the law as well as relevant Garda policies and procedures”.
An Garda Síochána continues to investigate all the circumstances of this fatal road traffic collision.
An Garda Síochána will continue to provide any supports, as necessary, to all of our members who attended at that very difficult scene on the M9 on the 16th August 2026.
An Garda Síochána’s thoughts also remain with the four innocent persons injured in that collision.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has welcomed the Fiosrú finding.
"I have previously highlighted the really challenging situation members of An Garda Síochána are put in dealing with such incidents as Gardaí do what they can to stop such vehicles while also taking into consideration all other road users.
"I have also spoken publicly about the need for increased statutory protections for Gardaí when driving as part of their duty to keep people safe.”
Speaking earlier this week at the Ploughing Championships, Commissioner Kelly said, "The members of An Garda Síochána that were there at the M9, we are providing with all the supports that we can. They obviously all remain fully on duty, all those members. I want publicly just to thank all the guards who worked around that horrendous incident that night dealing with, obviously a really difficult scene, and even what happened before that.
"It's really important that I as Commissioner support the members of An Garda Síochána who are out there every night, when lots of us are asleep in our beds, they're out there every night and they're working hard to keep all our community safe. So it's really important as I say that I support them.
"The Fiosrú investigation, it has to run its course, and we obviously wait to see what the outcome of that will be, obviously as Garda Commissioner I certainly hope you know that all our members who were involved in that will be exonerated.”
