Three men who died in a crash in Dublin were believed to have been fleeing police just moments before they veered into a lorry while driving on the wrong side of the road.
The Irish Mirror revealed that the BMW 3 Series they were driving in is believed to have been involved in a number of burglaries in recent weeks.
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Named locally as Graham Taylor, 31, Carl Freeman, 26, and Dean Maguire, 29, they had more than 200 convictions between them.
Police officers noticed the car they were in was driving erratically in Cheeerstown, Dublin, on on Wednesday, July 7.
The car then sped off from police and drove onto the wrong side of the road.
Just minutes later, at around 11.40pm, the BMW crashed into a truck near the Rathcoole exit and burst into flames.
The three men were killed and the driver of the truck, a man in his 40s, was taken to Tallaght University Hospital where he is being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries.
A source told the Irish Mirror: "The move to drive away from gardai down the wrong side of the road is something they have done before. And on previous occasions, it has worked for the gang.
"The sheer recklessness of it was shown in this incident. They have died as a result.
"But there’s an innocent man who was just doing his job driving a lorry left with serious injuries. And there’s the whole trauma of such an incident that comes with it too."
As the BMW had been pursued before the crash, the Garda Ombudsman was notified and will conduct an investigation.
Last night Freeman’s girlfriend posted a tribute on social media, she said: "I can’t believe I’m even writing this with the heaviest heart please just someone slap me this is all a nightmare there is no such thing as god.
"Look at u happy u were too good for this stupid s****y world I’ll see you on the other side.
"You were so loved by everyone you have me lost I honestly can’t believe this my Karl I love you please please please watch over me my love I’ll never forget you I promise I love you so so much.
"My best friend and partner I can’t get my head around this."
Last night, friends of the three men paid tribute to them on social media.
One said: “RIP lads proper legends.”
Another wrote he would never forget Taylor and Freeman, who he described as two “lunatics”, and that it would be a different world without them.
A third posted: “Rest in paradise boys.”
Mayor of South Dublin County Council Peter Kavanagh said the incident was news “no one wants to wake up to”.
He added: "It’s obviously a terrible tragedy, it’s terrible for the families of those involved and my thoughts are with them at this moment."
A Garda spokesman said: "Gardai are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.
"In particular, any witnesses who may have seen a dark blue BMW 3 Series vehicle, registration 06-D-47768, in the areas of Belgard, Citywest or the N7 between 11.15pm and 12am are asked to come forward.
"Officers can be contacted at Clondalkin Garda station on 01 666 7600 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111."
