Young Tyrone man 'has no memory' of Markethill road crash that claimed lives of Ciara McElvanna, Patrick Grimley and his wife Ciera
An alleged killer driver, accused of causing a four-vehicle car crash in Co Armagh which claimed the lives of three people and seriously injured four more, “has no memory” of the tragic incident, a court has heard.
Family and friends of those killed and injured in the incident on November 4, 2023 filled the public gallery at Newry Crown Court as 20-year-old Josh McGleenan entered not guilty pleas to each of the eight charges against him.
McGleenan, from Ashveagh in Benburb, is accused of three charges of causing death by dangerous driving, four of causing grievous bodily injury also by dangerous driving and a final charge of dangerous driving.
The defendant is alleged to have caused the deaths of Ciara McElvanna as well as husband and wife Patrick and Ciera Grimley by driving dangerously on the Gosford Road, Markethill.
The charge of simple dangerous driving accuses McGleenan of driving dangerously on roads between Ashveagh, Benburb and the Gosford Road.
The charges arise following a collision in the early hours of November 4, 2023 when nine emergency ambulance crews were deployed to the scene.
Tragically father-of-three Mr Grimley died at the scene while Mrs Grimley and 44-year-old mother-of-four Mrs McElvanna sadly passed away in the following days.
Her husband, former All-Ireland winning Gaelic footballer Kevin McElvanna was one of those injured as the friends made their way home Mr Grimley’s 40th birthday party.
Previously, defence KC Michael Chambers has told the court that McGleenan “is truly sorry for what occurred”.
"He has asked me to extend on his behalf, and he accepts this may bring little comfort, his heartfelt apologies to all who have been affected by this case,” Mr Chambers has told the court.
Ahead of the arraignment on Friday, he took several minutes to explain the reasons behind McGleenan’s denials and how the collision occurred.
He told the court and Judge Paul Ramsey KC the circumstances behind it “are a little unusual” in that according to the papers served by the prosecution, “there appears to have been a collision between the defendant’s vehicle and a taxi.”
The deceased victims had been in that taxi but Mr Chambers said that following that impact, the taxi is struck by a third vehicle “and it appears to have been that collision that caused the deaths of certainly two, if not all three.”
"He has no memory of what occurred,” the senior barrister said, adding that McGleenan “sustained a serious head injury”.
Given that circumstance, “all we have is the prosecution evidence and the prosecution expert report” so until the defence have obtained their own expert report, they are unable to properly advise McGleenan.
An expert has already been instructed but their report will not be ready until mid-January, Mr Chambers explained, suggesting that while a provisional trial date could be set for March 16 next year, both he and prosecuting KC Geraldine McCullough will liaise to bring the case for review at a suitable date.
He assured Judge Ramsey, and the families, that “we will not forget about this case, it will not go into the ether, as it were”.
The judge formally listed the case for trial on March 16 and freed McGleenan on continuing bail, suggesting that the case will likely be reviewed in late January or into February.