Mum of teen killed in wrong-way M9 crash says she begged judge to jail him weeks before his death
The mother of a teenager who was killed after a car was driven the wrong way on the M9 motorway in County Kildare says she had pleaded with a judge to jail her son because she couldn't keep him at home.
Kamil Pustkowski, 17, was killed alongside Jack Kennedy, 17, Jeremy O’Brien, 18, Joe Carthy, 15, and 16–year–old Alex McCarthy on 16 August when the BMW they were travelling in the wrong way down a motorway was involved in a head-on crash with another vehicle.
Sisters Niamh and Alma Kinsella, and Ella Hendricken, and Alma's seven-year-old son, Yemi, were the occupants of the other car and sustained serious injuries in the crash.
The family remains in hospital with a friend recently revealing that they have a ‘long, long recovery ahead of them’.
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In a new interview, Kamil’s mum Emilia Pustkowska, from Limerick, has spoken out in defence of her son and says he was ‘lost’ and denied claims that he was the ‘leader’ of the group of teens.
Speaking to the Irish Mail, Pustkowska said: “I know he wasn’t [the leader]. He wasn’t able to lead himself. So how was he the leader? We know that. He was lost… not the leader.”
She told the publication that her son’s behaviour had only become an issue in recent months, with the gardaí first contacting her about possible car offences in January 2025, but says that things ‘snowballed’ from there.
Pustkowska said she attended court with her son on several occasions.
“Every single court case I was there,” she said.
“I was three times in Limerick. I was five times in Dublin. Not because there was something new happening… it was always postponed.”
The mum said that despite her son pleading guilty to some offences, he was never taken into custody and two cases that were scheduled for last month were adjourned.
“He pleaded guilty, that’s the thing. He didn’t pretend… he said yes,” she explained.
Pustkowska told the Irish Mail that she pleaded with the judge to send her son to prison.
She said: “I said to that judge, ‘I can’t keep him at home.’
“That’s the thing. For two years I’m living as a prisoner because I have locked everything.
“Nobody listened to me. Do you believe I wanted my child in the prison? But if you see what’s going on, you have to find different solutions.
“At least, if he was in the prison, maybe he will have time to mature. Probably then someone else would have been sitting in the car.
“That’s not any better. But at least that wouldn’t be Kamil.”
Speaking about the backlash she had faced, Pustkowska said she felt she couldn't even say sorry to the family in the other car 'because the people will eat you.’
Mum of killed teen apologises to injured sisters
The mum of Jeremy O'Brien, Margaret Berry, apologised to the sisters as she lamented her son's actions.
"I wish my son had never got into that car," she told The Sun.
"My heart goes out to this poor family and if I could see them I would apologise. I have said prayers for them and I hope to God that they can heal."
Berry added: "This tragedy should never have happened. I am not proud of what happened and I don’t condone what they did. I wish my son had never got into that car.
"I also hope one day that the family who remain in hospital can find some kind of forgiveness some day. I will continue to pray for them.
"My son and those other boys didn’t set out that night to intentionally hurt people and my heart will always break for everyone who’s involved in this nightmare."
The three sisters and little Yemi were said to be heading to Dublin airport to fly to the UK to attend a family wedding at the time of the crash.
A GoFundMe has raised €754,716 (£646,966) for them so far.
Claire Reid