Man sentenced to six years for dangerous driving causing death in Dublin
Carol Seery, a 67-year-old woman from Finglas and wife of a retired garda, was struck and killed at the scene on 4 October 2023 at Cross Guns Bridge on Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7, while crossing the road with her husband. The silver Honda Civic that hit her had been pursued by gardaí for under a minute after breaking a red light, and the case was referred to GSOC. Michael McGuirk, 23, of Crumlin, was arrested on 2 November 2023 and charged with dangerous driving causing death and reckless endangerment, and was remanded in custody. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 19 July 2024 and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment and a 15-year driving disqualification.
- Reported5 Oct
8 reports - Arrested2 Nov
3 reports - Charged3 Nov
2 reports - In court3 Nov
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Carol Seery, 67, was struck by a car while crossing the road and died at the scene.
- Where
- The collision occurred at Cross Guns Bridge on Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7.
- When
- The collision happened at 9:06pm or 9:10pm on 4 October 2023.
- Cause
- The car had been pursued by gardaí for under a minute after breaking a red light, and the driver crossed onto the wrong side of the road while evading.
- Weapon
- A 2007 silver Honda Civic was the vehicle involved, and it was bought just days before the crash.
- Investigation
- The case was referred to GSOC because the suspect car had come to gardaí attention shortly before the collision.
- A man in his 20s was arrested at Mountjoy Garda Station on 2 November 2023 and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
- Charges
- Michael McGuirk, 23, was charged with dangerous driving causing death and reckless endangerment.
- In court
- He appeared at Dublin District Court on 3 November 2023, made no reply to the charges, was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison, and the DPP directed trial in the Circuit Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 19 July 2024, McGuirk pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance, and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment and a 15-year driving disqualification.
- Other details
- Carol Seery was the wife of a retired garda and is survived by her husband, three children and six grandchildren.
- McGuirk has 66 previous convictions, including three for dangerous driving.
149 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA hit-and-run took place in Phibsborough. (extra.ie)
- whatThe wife of a retired garda was killed. (extra.ie)
- whatThe victim was named as Carol Seery. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCarol was struck by a car while out socialising with her husband. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe car failed to remain at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCarol Seery, 67, died after being struck by a car. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatCarol Seery died at the scene. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA woman was killed in a hit-and-run. (extra.ie)
- whatCarol Seery, 67, was struck by a car as she crossed the road. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCarol Seery was pronounced dead at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe driver of the Honda did not stop at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCarol Seery, 67, was killed in a hit and run. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe Honda Civic hit Mrs Seery and drove on at high speed. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMrs Seery died at the scene. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatA Honda Civic failed to stop after hitting and killing pensioner Carol Seery. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe Honda hit Mrs Seery and then drove on at high speed. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe car was later found abandoned a short distance away. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatCarol Seery was killed in a hit-and-run. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMrs Seery was pronounced dead at the scene. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe car was a silver Honda Civic and was recovered in the wider Phibsboro area a short time later. (thejournal.ie)
- whatCarol Seery, a 67-year-old grandmother, was killed in the crash. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí arrested a man in his 20s in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that killed a 67-year-old pedestrian in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman was struck by a car and pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCarol Seery died after being struck by a car. (rte.ie)
- whatCarol Seery, a 67-year-old pedestrian, was hit by a car and killed. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIt is alleged that McGuirk collided with Carol Seery, a 67-year-old woman from Finglas. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcGuirk is accused of mounting the footpath at speed. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMc Guirk struck Carol Seery, 67, who was crossing the road with her husband. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident was a hit-and-run in Phibsborough. (extra.ie)
- whereThe collision happened at the Cross Guns Bridge on Phibsborough Road. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe collision happened on the Phibsborough Road. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe collision happened at Cross Guns Bridge on Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe crash happened in the Phibsboro area of central Dublin. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at Cross Guns Bridge on the Phibsborough Road in Dublin 7. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe crash happened on Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe collision occurred at the Cross Guns Bridge on Phibsborough Road in Dublin 7. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereCarol Seery was struck as she crossed Phibsborough Road near Cross Guns Bridge in Phibsborough. (rte.ie)
- whereThe collision happened at Cross Guns Bridge on Phibsborough Road in Dublin 7. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident happened on Phibsborough Road near Cross Guns Bridge. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences took place at Phibsborough Road and surrounding areas. (rte.ie)
- whenThe collision happened at 9.10pm on Wednesday night. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe collision happened at 9.06pm on Wednesday night. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe collision happened on Wednesday evening. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe collision happened at around 9.10pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe crash happened on a Wednesday night. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe crash happened on Wednesday night. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe incident happened at about 9.10pm on 4 October. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe crash happened just after 9pm on Wednesday, 4 October. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe collision happened at approximately 9:10pm on October 4. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident happened just after 9pm on 4 October. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident happened at 9.10pm on October 4. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe fatal incident occurred on 4 October 2023. (rte.ie)
- causeThe car collided with her at high speed. (dublinlive.ie)
- causeThe woman was struck by a car being pursued by a garda vehicle. (extra.ie)
- causeThe car collided with Carol Seery at high speed. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeSources say a marked Garda car had pursued the Honda for less than a minute after officers saw it break a red light. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe case was referred to GSOC because the car was being pursued by a marked Garda car. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe car came to Garda attention after it sped through a red light. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- causeThe driver hit Ms Seery and then fled the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe driver had just begun speeding away from a Garda car when the car struck the victim. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe accused is alleged to have driven a car at speed and mounted a footpath. (rte.ie)
- causeThe car that hit Carol Seery failed to remain at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeWhile evading gardaí, Mc Guirk crossed onto the wrong side of the road. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí recovered a car described as a suspect car. (extra.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for information on the driver. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe suspect car, a silver Honda Civic, was recovered in the wider Phibsborough area shortly after the crash. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe suspect car has been taken to a secure location for technical and forensic examination. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe collision scene was preserved for technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationRoad sections were closed with local diversions in place. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí in Mountjoy are investigating the circumstances of the fatal collision. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationRoad users with dashcam or camera footage from the Phibsborough area between 8:30pm and 9:30pm are asked to contact gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí at Mountjoy station are investigating and appealed for witnesses. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGSOC is running a parallel probe after a Garda Superintendent referred the case. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationDetectives have traced the man who sold the Honda Civic and are hoping to find the buyer. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationWebcam footage shows the Honda speeding along the road before the collision. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí were hunting a suspected hit-and-run driver. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetectives are tracing the man who legitimately sold the car. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGSOC is running a parallel probe into the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí at Mountjoy station appealed for witnesses and camera footage. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe road was sealed off overnight while Garda and GSOC investigators worked. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí in Mountjoy station were still hunting the driver on Friday night. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe independent policing watchdog GSOC is examining the incident because of the Garda pursuit. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed for witnesses to come forward. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí were following the car for only a short distance before the crash. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe pursuit lasted only a few hundred metres. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGSOC is examining the incident because there was a Garda pursuit before the crash. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe case was referred to the Garda Ombudsman (GSOC) because the suspect car had come to the attention of gardaí shortly before the collision. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe car was taken to a secure location for technical and forensic examination. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested a man in his 20s at Mountjoy Garda Station. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe arrested man was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationInvestigations into the incident are still ongoing. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí have arrested a suspect in connection with the death. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA man was arrested on Thursday in connection with the fatal crash. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe suspect was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at a Garda station in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe fatal crash was referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are confident the vehicle represents a very strong line of inquiry. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe case was referred to the Garda Ombudsman (GSOC) because the suspect car had come to garda attention shortly before the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA 2007 silver Honda Civic was recovered in the wider Phibsborough area later that night. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe recovered car was taken to a secure location for forensic and technical examination. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí had appealed for information on the driver and for witnesses who saw the car before the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA Garda spokesman said investigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationHe was arrested as part of the investigation the day before court. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe case was referred to the Garda Ombudsman (GSOC). (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested a man in connection with the incident on Thursday and detained him under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMcGuirk was arrested on a Thursday morning and then charged at Mountjoy Garda Station. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí had earlier spotted Mc Guirk breaking a red light and turned to follow him. (rte.ie)
- chargeMichael McGuirk was charged with dangerous driving causing death. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe was also charged with reckless endangerment. (rte.ie)
- chargeA man in his 20s arrested over the collision has been charged. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMichael McGuirk faces charges of dangerous driving causing death and reckless endangerment. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMc Guirk pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. (rte.ie)
- courtHe was brought before Dublin District Court. (rte.ie)
- courtHe made no reply to the two charges. (rte.ie)
- courtNo bail application was made at that time. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Treasa Kelly remanded him in custody to Cloverhill Prison. (rte.ie)
- courtFree legal aid was granted. (rte.ie)
- courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions gave verbal directions for trial on indictment. (rte.ie)
- courtThe accused is due to appear before a sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMcGuirk made no reply to the charges. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP has directed trial in the Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThere was no application for bail. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- sentenceJudge Treasa Kelly remanded McGuirk in custody to Cloverhill Prison until the following Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of eight and a half years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a sentence of six years, taking mitigating circumstances into account. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a 15-year driving disqualification. (rte.ie)
- otherThe car involved in a Dublin fatality came to garda attention earlier. (extra.ie)
- otherCarol was pronounced dead a short time after the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe driver failed to stop at the scene. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe suspect car was found parked on nearby Avondale Road a short time later. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe car had been bought just days before the accident. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherA Garda car had been pursuing the car for less than a minute when the accident happened. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe road was sealed off overnight while investigators worked. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherWebcam footage shows the Honda speeding along the road seconds before the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe suspect car was a silver Honda Civic that was recovered in the wider Phibsboro area. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSources claim the Honda Civic was bought just days before the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA family liaison officer has been appointed to the deceased woman's family. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí had been following the car for only a short distance, under 20 seconds, when the crash happened. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe pursuit covered only a few hundred metres. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Honda was later found abandoned a short distance away. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe car had been bought just a few days before the crash. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe driver had been spotted driving dangerously and was being sought by gardaí before the crash. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe car, a 2007 Dublin-registered silver Honda Civic, was found abandoned near the crash scene. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe car had not been reported stolen and had changed hands in the days before the crash. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman was later identified as Carol Seery. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA man in his 20s was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCarol Seery was the wife of a former garda. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMc Guirk's brake lights did not activate, he did not alter his course or take evasive action, and he abandoned the car nearby. (rte.ie)
- otherMc Guirk has 66 previous convictions, including three for dangerous driving. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Jul2024Man jailed for six years over fatal Dublin hit-and-run
Adds the sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court: a six-year sentence (headline eight and a half years), a 15-year driving disqualification, guilty pleas, the defendant's previous convictions and the judge's reasoning.
convicted, Michael Mc Guirk, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Mc Guirkvictim, Carol Seery, 67, female, irish (judged from name)Carol Seery - 3 Nov2023Man appears in court charged with dangerous driving causing death of Carol Seery
Reports the charges against Michael McGuirk, his court appearance and remand in custody, and that the DPP has directed trial in the Circuit Criminal Court.
accused, Michael McGuirk, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael McGuirkvictim, Carol Seery, 67, female, irish (judged from name)Carol Seery - 3 Nov2023Man charged in connection with 'hit-and-run' that killed pedestrian Carol Seery
Adds that a man in his 20s has been charged, that he is due before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Friday 3 November 2023, and that the case was referred to GSOC. It also records the car's make and the date of the collision.
victim, Carol Seery, 67, female, irish (judged from name)Carol Seeryaccused, 20s, male - 3 Nov2023Man charged over fatal hit and run in Dublin last month
Reports the arrest, charging and first court appearance of Michael McGuirk, 23, including the charges, remand in custody to Cloverhill Prison and the grant of free legal aid.
victim, Carol Seery, 67, irish (judged from name)Carol Seeryaccused, Michael McGuirk, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael McGuirk - 3 Nov2023Man arrested in connection with hit-and-run that killed Dublin pensioner
Reports the arrest of a man in his 20s, detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Adds that the case was referred to GSOC because the suspect car had come to garda attention shortly before the collision, and that a 2007 silver Honda Civic was recovered and examined.
victim, Carol Seery, 67, female, irish (judged from name)Carol Seerysuspect, 20s, male - 2 Nov2023Suspect arrested over hit and run death of woman (67) in Dublin
Reports that a man in his 20s was arrested on Thursday and detained under Section 4 at a Dublin Garda station. Adds that the Honda Civic was found abandoned near the scene, was not reported stolen, and is a strong line of inquiry. Adds that the crash was referred to GSOC because the driver was being sought by gardaí.
victim, Carol Seery, 67, female, irish (judged from name)Carol Seerysuspect, 20s, male - 2 Nov2023Gardaí arrest a man in relation to fatal hit-and-run in Phibsborough last month
Reports that gardaí arrested a man in his 20s at Mountjoy Garda Station on 2 November 2023, detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Adds the arrest, the GSOC referral and the recovery and forensic examination of the car.
victim, Carol Seery, 60s, female, irish (judged from name)Carol Seerysuspect, 20s, male - 7 Oct2023Gardai were following car before 67-year-old Carol Seery's death in hit and run
Adds details of the Garda pursuit before the crash (under 20 seconds, a few hundred metres), that the car had been bought days earlier and was found abandoned nearby, that GSOC is examining the incident, and that gardaí are still hunting the driver. No charge is mentioned at this stage.
victim, Carol Seery, 67, female, irish (judged from name)Carol Seerysuspect - 6 Oct2023Gardaí were following Honda Civic before Carol Seery, 67, killed in hit and run
Earlier report from before any charge. It adds that gardaí were pursuing the car after it sped through a red light, that GSOC is examining the incident, and that gardaí appealed for witnesses.
victim, Carol Seery, 67, female, irish (judged from name)Carol Seerysuspect - 6 Oct2023Hunt on for suspected hit-and-run driver thought to have killed ex-Garda's wife
Reports the Garda and GSOC investigations, the car's recovery, witness appeals and sources' claims that the car was bought days earlier and was pursued by a Garda car after breaking a red light. No arrest or charge is reported in this article.
victim, Carol Seery, 67, female, irish (judged from name)Carol Seerysuspect - 6 Oct2023Woman Killed In Hit-And-Run Was Struck By Car Being Pursued By Garda Vehicle
Only the headline contains article content; the body is unrendered template code. The headline states that a woman was killed and that the car that struck her was being pursued by a garda vehicle. No existing case matches.
victim, female - 6 Oct2023Ex-garda's wife killed in suspected hit and run in Phibsborough
Early report of the incident before any arrest or charge. Adds that the car was bought days before the crash, that a Garda car was pursuing it for under a minute, that the car was found on Avondale Road, that the seller has been traced, and that webcam footage shows the car speeding.
victim, Carol Seery, 67, female, irish (judged from name)Carol Seerysuspect, male - 5 Oct2023Woman killed in suspected hit-and-run in Phibsborough named as photo released
Names the victim as Carol Seery, 67, and reports that the suspect car, a silver Honda Civic, was recovered in the Phibsborough area and is undergoing forensic examination. Gardaí are appealing for dashcam footage and information on the driver. No arrest is reported.
victim, Carol Seery, 67, female, irish (judged from name)Carol Seerysuspect - 5 Oct2023Wife Of Retired Garda Killed In Phibsborough Hit-And-Run Named
Reports that the wife of a retired garda was killed in a Phibsborough hit-and-run and that she was named. The body text is missing from the article, so no further details are available.
victim - 5 Oct2023Gardai Recover 'Suspect Car' Following Phibsborough Hit And Run
Only the headline is readable. The body contains template markup with no further facts.
- 5 Oct2023Car Involved In Dublin Fatality Came To Garda Attention Earlier
Only the headline is usable. The body is unrendered page template code with no details of the incident, the car, the people involved or the garda contact.