South Dublin criminals Graham Taylor (31), Karl Freeman (26) and Dean Maguire (29) made international headlines after the car they were travelling in collided head-on with a lorry as it drove the wrong way down the N7 near Rathcoole on the night of July 7, 2021
Dean Maguire, Carl Freeman and Graham Taylor
Family and friends of three prolific criminals killed in a horror fireball road crash have paid tribute to them on the fifth anniversary of their deaths – with some saying they are ‘always missed.’
South Dublin criminals Graham Taylor (31), Karl Freeman (26) and Dean Maguire (29) made international headlines after the car they were travelling in collided head-on with a lorry as it drove the wrong way down the N7 near Rathcoole on the night of July 7, 2021.
The men had fled from gardai before driving down the N7 on the wrong side of the road before smashing into the truck head-on.
The three, from Tallaght, perished in a burning car.
Graham Taylor and Carl Freeman
The three criminals, who had more than 200 previous convictions between them, were main players in a gang who used the motorway network to carry out burglaries in rural areas.
On Tuesday, July 7 on the fifth anniversary of their horror deaths, family and friends took to social media to remember the three criminals.
Graham’s brother Brendan and sister Aoife both paid tribute to him on TikTok, with Aoife saying “We had a special bond.”
“7th of July. A day I will never forget,” Aoife wrote. “5 years today bro. Words could never say how much I miss you everyday. Losing you changed me. We had a special bond. You were always there no matter what. Keep guiding us all. Love you always Graham.”
Carl Freeman
Graham’s brother Brendan also paid tribute to him with a selection of photos on TikTok with the caption: “In loving memory of my dear brother Graham. Missed always.”
Another friend wrote: “Hard to believe it’s been 5 years already since God took you home Graham. You are always missed and loved in my home. The memories we all shared I’m so thankful for. Until we meet again. Thinking of all Graham Taylor’s, Karl Freeman’s and Dean Maguire’s family and friends today.”
Another wrote: “RIP Graham, Karl and Dean. 5 years gone from your loving family and friends.”
Crash victim Dean ‘Deano’ Maguire, was killed alongside his pals(Image: Pic by Justin Kernoghan / BelfastLive)
Maguire, Taylor and Freeman were all travelling in a BMW 3 Series car when they were pursued by gardai, who had spotted them driving erratically.
Officers had stopped the pursuit when the thugs hit the dual carriageway because of the danger the car’s route posed.
But just minutes later, their car smashed into a truck at around 11.40pm and the car burst into flames, killing all three.
The BMW 3 Series in which they were travelling is suspected to have been involved in a number of burglaries in the weeks prior to their horror deaths.
The dead men’s bodies were so badly burnt that they are to be identified through DNA technology.
Maguire’s funeral, which took place at St Mary’s Priory in Tallaght on Friday, July 16, 2021 shocked the wider public, and prompted the clergy involved to call gardai, as the numbers attending the service got out of control.
The funeral was also condemned for glorifying criminality after offerings praising Maguire’s burglary skills – including a screwdriver and a torch – were brought to the altar as gifts.
A professionally printed banner featuring Maguire’s face and the words: “You know the score, get on the floor, don’t be funny, show me the money” were also included.
Even before his funeral service, Dean Maguire’s associates created controversy with a high-speed convoy through Crumlin and parts of Dublin, allegedly flouting the rules of the road.
The three close friends were members of a major burglary gang based in Tallaght and its leaders had close ties with murdered gangster Fat Andy Connors.
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