Garda accused of dangerous driving over crash that killed three members of burglary gang denies charges and will face trial

Karl Freeman, Graham Taylor and Dean Maguire were killed in the crash

Karl Freeman, Graham Taylor and Dean Maguire were killed in the crash

thumbnail: Karl Freeman, Graham Taylor and Dean Maguire were killed in the crash
thumbnail: Karl Freeman, Graham Taylor and Dean Maguire were killed in the crash
Andrew Phelan

A garda accused of dangerous driving and endangerment following a crash in Dublin that claimed the lives of three men has denied the charges and is facing trial.

John Francis Ryan is being prosecuted over a fatal accident on Dublin’s N7 two years ago when three members of a burglary gang died.

His case was adjourned for the preparation of a book of evidence at Dublin District Court today.

Gda Ryan, who was stationed in Tallaght, is accused of three counts of dangerous driving and one of endangerment in the incident on July 7, 2021.

Today, Judge Michele Finan was told the DPP consented to the case being dealt with in the District Court on a plea of guilty only.

State solicitor Tom Conlon said: “The position is, a book of evidence is required”, with the accused having indicated he will be contesting the case.

News in 90 - Monday April 8

Gda Ryan, who was excused from attending court today, was represented by a solicitor.

Judge Finan extended the time required for the service of the book of evidence and adjourned the case to June 26.

Previously, the prosecution had been ordered to disclose evidence to the defence, including any CCTV footage.

Non-publication of the garda's home address was also ordered earlier.

The prosecution is being brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC).

The three men – Dean Maguire (29), Karl Freeman (26) and Graham Taylor (31) – were killed instantly when their BMW vehicle burst into flames following a head-on crash with a truck between Citywest and Baldonnel while they were driving on the wrong side of the road.

The three were members of a Tallaght-based gang that specialised in burglaries and were fleeing gardaí at the time.

Last May, an inquest into the deaths was adjourned when Dublin District Coroner’s Court heard a criminal prosecution had been initiated.

The coroner, Clare Keane, was informed that the DPP had taken the decision to bring the prosecution based on a file submitted by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), which investigated the circumstances of the fatal crash.

GSOC applied for an adjournment of the inquest into the deaths of the three men.