Fatal crash driver was ‘at large’ after garda hit-and-run
He was also suspected of serious assault on a woman
A DRIVER involved in a fatal crash in which a man died and a garda was injured, was already ‘at large’ after a hit-and-run involving the same garda eight years ago.
Takeaway delivery man and father-of-two, Stephen Marron, 47, was killed when his parked car was struck in Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan, at around 11.30pm on Tuesday.
The driver of the other car is a 34-year-old convicted criminal who has been sought by gardaí since he jumped bail for the hitand-run of Garda Michael Devlin in 2010. He had also been charged for drink driving as part of the same incident.
In a bizarre twist, Garda Devlin spotted the suspect when he entered Castleblaney Garda Station on Tuesday night seeking to speak to another garda. Recognising him as the driver responsible for injuring him in a hit-and-run, Garda Devlin approached the suspect, who fled the station.
Garda Devlin pursued him on foot and managed to get partially into the suspect’s car, a silver Audi. He was ‘half in, half out’ when the suspect took off.
A source said: ‘He was essentially then dragged along at the beginning. He managed to get fully inside the suspect’s car when the crash took place. That probably saved his life.’
The garda’s attempts to detain the suspect ended in tragedy when the car struck innocent Mr Marron’s parked car on Main Street in Clastleblaney. The fatal crash took place less than half a mile from the Garda station.
Mr Marron’s Skoda Octavia was badly damaged in the crash as it struck a pole, claiming the delivery driver’s life.
Garda Devlin sustained injuries to his face and leg but has been discharged from hospital. According to sources it is a ‘miracle’ he was not killed.
Gardaí appealed last night for a woman who came to the assistance of injured Garda Devlin at the scene to come forward.
The driver of the silver Audi was arrested at the scene and remained in custody at Carrickmacross Garda Station last night under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
CCTV footage of the crash shows the suspect’s car taking the lefthand junction with the Main Street erratically, with the driver’s door open wide.
The car then goes onto the other side of the road before it veers to its left and rear-ends Mr Marron’s blue Skoda.
The suspect’s car then travels on a few metres before colliding with a pole at a pedestrian crossing.
The suspect is seen emerging from the car, apparently unharmed and holding up his hands as a Garda car approaches. Garda Devlin is seen being assisted out of the car by a member of the public, clearly injured.
Tributes were last night paid to Mr Marron. The Parish of Muckno said: ‘The priests and all the people of the parish… are shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic death of Stephen Marron. Stephen was an active member of our parish community, serving as assistant sacristan at St Mary’s Church, Castleblayney and St Patrick’s Church, Oram. Serving too as a Minister of the Word at our liturgical gatherings and as well as helping the parish community in many other roles, including as a member of our Parish Safeguarding Committee.’
He was described as ‘a devoted member of the wider Castleblayney community, particularly through sports organisations. Above all, Stephen was a loving and devoted husband and father, a son, brother, and a good friend to many’.
Brendan Tavey who owns a business on the Main Street, added: ‘The town is very, very shocked at this. He was just a local man doing his job.
‘He is married with two children and his family are decent and respectable people.’
Kevin Mullen, whose CCTV captured the collision, said: ‘I was talking to him and his wee girl yesterday down in Lidl. I met him at the till. We spoke and he was joking about different bits and pieces. We are totally shocked with it. A man rang me who lives beside the family. They are totally shocked.’
Mr Marron is survived by his wife Helen and two children. Local councillor Aidan Campbell said: ‘I want to pay tribute to him and sympathise with his family. The whole town is in shock, it is just numb.
‘Our sympathies go to his entire family, and in the days leading up to Christmas this is just horrific.’
The suspect has been subject to a bench warrant for his arrest since 2011, after he was driving a car that injured Garda Devlin in a hit-and-run on November 20, 2010.
The warrant was issued after he failed to appear at a court hearing but security sources said last night that because the man lives in the North, a different criminal jurisdiction, it has been ‘extremely difficult’ to execute the warrant.
The man in custody has family links to Castleblaney but an address in Co. Armagh.
He is also wanted by gardaí over a suspected serious assault of a female relative who was left with a brain bleed and potential lifechanging injuries following the attack.
Injured officer had recognised him Devoted husband and father of two