Man pleads not guilty to three counts of death by dangerous driving

Patrick Grimley, Ciera Grimley and Ciara McElvanna died after the crash

A 20-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to causing the deaths of three people in a multi-vehicle crash near Markethill in November 2023.

Ciera Grimley, her husband Patrick Grimley and their friend Ciara McIlvenna died following the four-car collision on the Gosford Road in the early hours of 4 November 4 2023.

They were part of a group who had been returning from Mr Grimley's 40th birthday celebrations in Dundalk.

A number of other people were also injured in the crash.

Today at Newry Crown Court Josh McGleenan of Ashveagh in Benburb, County Tyrone pleaded not guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving; four counts of causing grievous bodily injury (GBI) by dangerous driving and one count of dangerous driving.

A large number of friends and family of the deceased were in the public gallery during this morning's hearing.

Before the not guilty pleas were entered a defence barrister told the court that this was a complicated case and that they had commissioned an expert report.

He said the complexity was that there had been a collision between the defendants car and a taxi but that a third vehicle had then also collided into the vehicles. He said the defendant suffered serious head injuries and had no memory of the crash.

A trial date of 16 March was set with a review to take place beforehand.