Ireland

Donegal dual carriageway victims were suspects in pub raid

Barney McGinley (left) and Dermot Murphy-Boyle died in Wednesday morning's accident 
Barney McGinley (left) and Dermot Murphy-Boyle died in Wednesday morning's accident  Barney McGinley (left) and Dermot Murphy-Boyle died in Wednesday morning's accident 

Gardaí are investigating a possible link between two Donegal men killed in a horrific road crash and a robbery at a nearby pub.

Barney McGinley (28) and Dermot Murphy-Boyle (19) died instantly when their Mitsubishi Charisma car ploughed into an oncoming van on the Letterkenny dual carriageway early on Wednesday morning.

The car was driving the wrong way when the collision happened at around 4.45am on the N13 at Trimragh.

While the driver of the van was seriously hurt, his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The Garda Ombudsman was called in after it was established there had been “some interaction” between officers and the car before the crash.

It is believed gardaí had been monitoring the vehicle before it went onto the dual carriageway.

It has now emerged that the two men were suspected of breaking into Rosie’s Bar at Drumkeen, near the scene of another road tragedy which killed three young people yesterday morning.

A cash register found in the back of the men’s car is believed to be from the well-known pub.

It is understood Mr McGinley had several previous convictions for car theft and drink driving.

In 2013, he was also sentenced to 12 months in prison in connection with a ram-raid on a border petrol station.

The Donegal man was part of a gang which drove a car into the business at St Johnston near the Derry/Donegal border.

Letterkenny district court was told he was attempting to overcome a drink and drugs problem.

Mr McGinley’s funeral will take place from his home in Letterkenny to St Eunan’s Cathedral for Requiem Mass at 3pm tomorrow, with burial afterwards at New Leck cemetery.

Requiem Mass for Mr Murphy-Boyle will be at the Church of The Irish Martyrs in Letterkenny at noon tomorrow, with burial in the same cemetery.