Gardai have launched a dangerous driving probe after a hearse with the remains of a convicted burglar was taken for a high-speed spin – and refused to stop for traffic cops.
Dean Maguire, 29, was one of three men killed in a head-on collision with a lorry on the N7 in Dublin last week.
His body along with his associates Graham Taylor and Carl Freeman were formally identified over the weekend.
A hearse with Maguire’s remains was driven from Dublin city centre on Wednesday to a house for a wake ahead of his funeral today.
In footage seen by the Irish Mirror, the hearse was sped through the Old Naas Road and Crumlin areas of Dublin, followed by a number of cars.
Some of the surrounding cars had tribute posters on their windows to dead Maguire.
The group of cars even sped through a red light at one stage, beeping loudly.
Gardai on patrol attempted to stop the cars but they stood down when the vehicles failed to stop.
A source confirmed: “A friend of the dead man was driving the hearse and it was followed by a number of other people in cars.
“It broke at least one red light. There was also a bike burning rubber at one stage as well.” Gardai confirmed a dangerous driving investigation is
under way.
A spokesman said: “Gardai are investigating an incident of dangerous driving which occurred on and around the Old Naas Road and Crumlin areas of Dublin, on Wednesday afternoon.
“Crumlin gardai on patrol observed a number of vehicles engaged in dangerous and erratic driving.
“A managed containment operation was commenced and was subsequently stood down when the vehicles failed to stop.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”
When the Irish Mirror contacted the funeral directors yesterday, a spokesman said: “I wouldn’t be in a position to comment on that. Thanks for calling and have a
good day.”
Maguire’s funeral will take place today at Priory Church in Tallaght Village at 11am before being brought to Newlands Cross Cemetery.
He along with Taylor and Freeman died after the BMW they were in last Wednesday night crashed head-on into a lorry.
After fleeing gardai moments beforehand, the men drove down the
wrong side of the N7 in Dublin before the smash, which saw their car burst into flames.
Maguire had over 25 convictions, including for burglary.
And as revealed by the Irish Mirror last week, he was wanted by British police after he fled from a Hollesley Bay prison in England on October 17, 2018 but was never recaptured. He went on to commit more offences.
All three men were pals and worked for a notorious Tallaght-based burglary gang.
Taylor’s funeral takes place tomorrow and Freeman is being laid to rest on Monday.
