Gardaí failed previous victims as McGrath went on to kill

Mary Lynch was working her taxi for just over two hours when she encountered Jerry McGrath. It was 2.15am on Monday, April 30, 2007. McGrath emerged from the nightclub in the Headford Arms Hotel in Kells, Co Meath, and asked would she take him to Virginia, Co Cavan, where his sister lived. He was from Dundrum in Tipperary, but was staying with his sister.

In Virginia, he gave her directions that led down a dark cul-de-sac. He didn’t seem to know which house was his sister’s, although he had been staying there some time. Ms Lynch stopped outside a random house, and told him the fare was €32.

He got out of the taxi and walked around to the driver’s side, opening the door.