Garda charged with endangerment sent for trial over N7 crash that killed three
A Dublin garda faces trial at Circuit Court level over a 2021 N7 pursuit in which three men died in a fiery head-on collision with a truck.
Garda to face jury over fatal N7 pursuit crash
A member of An Garda Síochána accused of endangering life during a fatal pursuit on the N7 has been sent forward for trial before a judge and jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, rte.ie reports.
Garda John Francis Ryan of Tallaght Garda Station is charged under section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Persons Act, which alleges he drove westwards in the eastwards auxiliary lane between Rathcoole and Citywest in a reckless manner, posing a substantial risk of death or serious injury to a member of the public.
Dean Maguire, 29, Karl Freeman, 26, and Graham Taylor, 31 — all from Tallaght — died instantly on 7 July 2021 when a BMW they were travelling in burst into flames after a head-on crash with a truck between Citywest and Baldonnel. The three men had been driving on the wrong side of the N7 while fleeing gardaí.
The Director of Public Prosecutions authorised the charges following an investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) into the fatal collision.
Ryan was first summonsed to Dublin District Court in June last year. The case was adjourned several times, including to allow the prosecution to hand over relevant material such as video footage. At his initial hearing on 28 June last year, his solicitor sought disclosure of prosecution evidence including any CCTV footage; a GSOC officer confirmed there would be compliance.
Judge Michele Finan was informed that the DPP had directed summary disposal on a guilty plea in the District Court, but because the accused is contesting the charges, a book of evidence was required and the matter had to proceed to the Circuit Court. A prosecutor served Ryan with the book of evidence at the most recent hearing.
Judge Finan granted the return for trial order; the case is listed at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 18 July. The court has also ordered media outlets not to publish the garda's home address.
A coroner's inquest into the deaths of the three men has been opened but adjourned pending the conclusion of the judicial process.
Source: Irish Independent