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  • 2 days ago
Credit: South Yorkshire Police
Transcript
00:00Hello, I'm Tom Woodward, Detective Chief Inspector in the South Healdshire Police's Major Crime Unit.
00:05On the 4th of April this year, on this road, the A57 heading towards Toddick,
00:10Graham Slynn lost his life.
00:12He was a loving father, grandfather and a real community spirit.
00:17We had reports going to our control room that a vehicle had made off from the scene.
00:21All our efforts were then focused on trying to find out who was responsible for killing Graham.
00:27The Serious Collisions Unit attended this scene and through some good work identified a Volkswagen Golf that was involved in the collision.
00:35And through inquiries, they identified that Cain Byrne had linked to that vehicle and so he was arrested.
00:42Although he was interviewed, he didn't answer any questions and at that time he was bailed whilst further investigations could take place.
00:49Due to level of criminality involved and the challenges that this investigation would bring,
00:54a joint investigation between our Serious Collisions Unit and the Major Crime Unit was launched to effectively work together to solve the case.
01:03I focused the investigation in three key areas, CCTV, witnesses and searchers to try and identify the driver but also locate the car.
01:13Officers worked diligently, trawling hours of CCTV footage to try and identify who was the driver
01:20and also locate the car which was found burned out in the Derbyshire area.
01:26A breakthrough in the case came when officers found some CCTV identifying the vehicle and Cain as a driver
01:32several miles away and also locations in between.
01:36Cain Byrne had no driving licence and therefore no insurance so he shouldn't have been on the roads.
01:41It was creating great risks to the public of South Yorkshire
01:44and CCTV and witness evidence showed just how dangerous his driving was.
01:49Cain was re-arrested and was transported back to South Yorkshire
01:52where he was interviewed by experienced detectives within the Major Crime Unit.
01:56Throughout the interview, he remained silent.
01:59Even when Graham's tribute from his family was read to him, he refused to answer any questions whatsoever.
02:04They describe Graham as a husband, a dad and a granddad.
02:11They describe him as part of his employment.
02:15He was a carer for adults with learning disabilities
02:17and his family describe him as a gentle, funny and kind to his core.
02:28How does it make you feel hearing that about Graham?
02:31Oh, come on.
02:32He was charged with death by dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.
02:40Knowing that the evidence was against him,
02:42Cain pleaded guilty to all offences on the 12th of May at Sheffield Crown Court.
02:47Fatal road traffic collisions cause a rippling effect for our communities.
02:52They bring heartache to the families and all those that love them
02:55and we in South Yorkshire Police are doing all we can to make these roads safer
02:59and bring people like Cain Byrne to justice.
03:03And at this time, our thoughts remain with Graham's family and all those that loved him.

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