Funeral takes place of father-of-two killed in N7 crash

The funeral has taken place of Dean Maguire who was killed with two others in a collision on the N7 last week.

The Mass at St Mary's Priory in Tallaght heard that Mr Maguire (29) was a loving father of two children and brother, always eager to protect his family.

The Tallaght man was killed along with his friends Karl Freeman (26) and Graham Taylor (31) while travelling in a car on the wrong side of the road on Wednesday last week.

The vehicle burst into flames after a head-on collision with a truck. The truck driver was left with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

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The BMW, which was being driven by Mr Freeman, had come to attention earlier that night after it was spotted driving erratically with its lights turned off.

All three dead men had multiple criminal convictions. Mr Maguire had carried out many burglaries in the area over the years.

He was described in court on one occasion as being part of “a highly sophisticated, organised crime gang”.

At the time of his death, he was wanted by UK police after fleeing from Hollesley Bay open prison in 2018.

Mr Maguire’s funeral on Friday followed a removal on Thursday night during which cars were videoed driving erratically behind the funeral hearse. Gardaí are investigating the incident.

The funeral procession on Friday was escorted by several motorcycles which stopped to rev their engines along the route.

Among the offerings presented at Mr Maguire’s funeral were a torch, screwdriver and his registration plate.

“Your little girls are going to grow up and never, ever forget you. That’s our promise brother,” a friend told the service.

“We had some mad memories that will last my whole life that we put in the ‘f**k it bucket’. Sleep easy brother. Life will never be the same without you.”

Another friend told mourners: “I could write a book of the memories we have together, the good and the bad. But I won’t mention them because you can’t get flipped but I can. You know the score brother.”

A family member said not a day “will go by” that they would not think of Mr Maguire.

“Sorry for the language father. Rest in peace you f**king legend,” she added to applause.

In a letter read out to mourners, another family member recalled how protective Mr Maguire was of his brother Paddy.

“If Paddy had an argument with someone you would say, ‘Paddy show me where they live and I will go up and blow them off the map.’ There will be never be a day you are not thought of. Your legacy will live on forever.”

Mr Maguire’s niece recalled how he would give her the “biggest hug” before secretly slipping her a €50 note. “You were the funniest person I know,” she added.

Flower arrangements at the altar described Mr Maguire as a “Daddy”, a “Babby” and a “Mad Man”.

A priest told the funeral Mass Mr Maguire’s family and friends can “take comfort in the knowledge that we will meet him again when we are gathered in the Kingdom of God”.

Mr Taylor’s funeral takes place on Saturday. Mr Freeman is to be buried on Monday.