A garda investigation has begun into all aspects of the crash yesterday in which a Dublin taxi-driver was killed. Mr Arthur Murphy died when his taxi was hit by a stolen car, which was being followed by two Garda vehicles.
Mr Murphy (46) died after three youths in a stolen 1998 Mercedes crashed into his taxi on the back road between Clonee and Clonsilla in Dublin about 1 a.m. A Garda spokesman said the two Garda cars following the stolen car were "several hundred yards behind" when the accident happened.
Gardai believe the two airbags, which inflated on impact in the luxury car, could have saved the lives of the youths, at least two of whom were believed to be wearing seatbelts.
It appeared the Mercedes had rounded a bend on the wrong side of the road, hitting the nine-year-old Nissan Bluebird taxi driven by Mr Murphy as he returned from dropping off a passenger.
He was removed from the scene and died later in Blanchardstown Hospital. He was married with four children.
Two Garda inspectors have been appointed to investigate the circumstances of the crash. One of the passengers in the stolen car, a 19-year-old man from Mulhuddart, was arrested at the scene. He received treatment for minor injuries as a result of the accident and was released after questioning last night. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Gardai are seeking the driver and a third passenger.
The car had been stolen after a burglary in Ashbourne, Co Meath, on Tuesday, during which thieves stole the car keys from the house. It was seen shortly before 1 a.m. yesterday near Mulhuddart Cemetery.
According to a senior garda, two Blanchardstown detectives in an unmarked car became suspicious and ran a check on the number plate. They followed the car and alerted the station. A Garda spokesman said the initial report said there was a shotgun in the car.
The scene of the crash, just past St Joseph's Hospital, has at least two blind bends and no street lighting.
The road then widens with more than half a mile of straight road leading to Clonee.
Two pairs of surgical gloves and debris marked the scene of the accident. A passport photograph of Mr Murphy was found face up on the tarmac.
An open lager bottle had been left in the rear of the Mercedes, which was being examined forensically last night. The passenger seat of the taxi was covered in blood and a number of personal belongings were scattered around what was left of the interior.
The manager of the taxi firm, Blanchardstown Taxis, Mr Noel Fannin, said Mr Murphy was an experienced taxi man who was very well-known in the area. He had been working as a driver with another local firm for as long as Mr Fannin knew him, and started working for Blanchardstown Taxis earlier this year.
Mr Murphy had been involved in organising the annual outing for handicapped children, he said.
"On behalf of all the drivers I extend our sympathy to Mary, his wife, and their four children."
Mr Fannin said Mr Murphy had finished a job in Dunboyne, Co Meath, around 12.50 a.m. He had dropped off a fare after being hailed on the street and was driving back to the rank in Blanchardstown when the accident happened.
Labour's justice spokesman, Mr Pat Upton, said the accident underlined the need to crack down on juvenile crime.
"In this regard I welcome the judgment handed down by Justice Kelly in the High Court yesterday that compelled the Government to construct a 24-bed high-support unit for troubled children," he said.
