Former Dundalk star Stephen Maher’s father killed in hit and run incident in Dublin

Stephen Maher in his Dundalk days

Former Dundalk FC star Stephen Maher’s father Eugene was the victim of a hit-and-run incident on Tuesday night.

Eugene Maher (62) died after being knocked off his bike by a car in Clontarf in north Dublin.

The motorist, who was believed to have been driving a silver Volkswagen Golf, drove on leaving the father of two in a critical condition in the middle of the road.

Emergency services rushed him to Beaumont Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Yesterday evening, gardai in Marino recovered a similar car with a 05D registration plate and removed it for forensic examination.

His heartbroken wife Marie and children were being comforted by family and friends at their home in Griffith Downs, Whitehall, North Dublin, yesterday.

Stephen plays in midfield for Drogheda United, who Dundalk face on Friday night, and has previously had stints with the Republic of Ireland U-21 team, Yeovil Town, Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick’s Athletic and Monaghan United. The 27-year-old was at Dundalk from 2010 to 2011 and again for a brief spell in 2012 after Monaghan Utd left the league. In total he made 51 appearances for the club, scoring twice.

His initial spell at Oriel Park was hampered by a case of osteitis pubis but he was fondly remembered for a man of the match display against Levski Sofia in the second leg of the club’s UEFA Europa League tie in 2010.

He would go on to win a league title with St Patrick’s Athletic in 2013.

The victim’s daughter, Lisa Marie Maher, is a model and the founder of a dance agency.

Former Dundalk goalkeeper facing €10.5m drugs charge

Van Boxtel in action for Dundalk

A former Dundalk and Leeds United goalkeeper, who had failed to appear in court six years ago while on charges linked to a €10.5m cannabis find, has been arrested.

Officers from the garda national drugs unit arrested 40-year-old fugitive Eddie van Boxtel during an operation in Clondalkin, Dublin, late last week.

Mr Van Boxtel had been on the garda wanted list after he failed to appear at Naas District Court and a warrant for his arrest was issued in July 2008.

The former soccer star, with an address at Sillogue Avenue, Ballymun, is charged with possession of a controlled drug, cannabis resin, and possession for sale and supply, at Castlewarden South, Kill, Co Kildare.

After his arrest, Mr Van Boxtel was brought before Naas court and remanded in custody in Cloverhill Prison to appear in court on Wednesday. He was not awarded bail.

Det Sgt Greg Sheehan told the court that Mr Van Boxtel had false documentation when he was arrested.

Mr Van Boxtel was one of four men arrested by gardai following the seizure of a large cannabis haul at Castlewarden on the Naas dual carriageway and brought before Naas court.

His failure to turn up in court for a scheduled appearance came five months after he had been charged with the offence.

Dutch-born Mr Van Boxtel was a well-known goalkeeper and played with several League of Ireland clubs.

He helped Dundalk to win the league in 1995 and also played with Galway United, Monaghan United, Home Farm and Bray Wanderers.

He also spent a season with Leeds United at the age of 17 but returned home after clashing with his manager.

His most famous sporting moment came when he saved a penalty from Eric Cantona during Dundalk’s friendly with Manchester United in the early ‘Nineties.

Source: Irish Independent