A GARDA has spoken of the terrifying moments before a car smashed into his patrol car and killed his colleague.
Garda Bernard McLaughlin said a car being driven by defendant Martin McDermott “came like a rocket” before it hit the patrol car head-on in Co Donegal in December 2009.
Garda Gary McLoughlin (24) died in hospital the following day.
Mr McDermott (25) denies manslaughter but has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Garda McLoughlin. He has also pleaded not guilty to driving intentionally in a reckless manner but pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.
Garda McLaughlin told Letterkenny Circuit Court that he and Garda McLoughlin had been alerted to a pursuit between an unmarked patrol car and a Vauxhall Astra on the main Letterkenny to Derry road at about 1.15am on December 13th.
The witness said he and his colleague were trained in operating the Garda “stinger” – a device for puncturing tyres – but were told it was too dangerous to deploy it. Instead they were told to simply get the registration number.
As they drove towards Letterkenny at Lisfannon near Burt, Garda McLaughlin said he noticed a car coming towards them.
“I studied it for a second and realised it was coming straight for us. It was like a rocket and I can’t put any other word on it.
“I shouted at Gary and he tried to pull the steering wheel to the left and into the ditch but we only had a second to the point of impact. It seemed to come like an arrow at our vehicle,” he said.
Garda McLaughlin said he remained conscious at all times during the crash. “There was a loud deafening bang and I received an awful blow to the right side of my body. The airbags were deployed and there was dust and charred glass everywhere.
“I gathered myself and looked over at Gary and he appeared to be slumped over and seemed lifeless. I called his name and shook him but there was no response and I thought he had passed away.”
The car driven by Mr McDermott had been pursued by Garda detectives in an unmarked car for more than 30km, reaching speeds of up to 170 km/h, after it was seen coming out of the Grove petrol station in Bridgend, the court heard.
He travelled to Newtowncunningham and then back towards Derry before crashing into Garda McLoughlin’s patrol car at Lisfannon. Garda forensics officer Kevin Giles said Mr McDermott was thrown across his car and thrown out the passenger window and down the road.
Det Garda Bernard Mullins said he found Mr McDermott on the road and thought he was dying at first, but he came around.
Mr McDermott was arrested on January 7th and interviewed by gardaí. Under Garda questioning Mr McDermott said he wished he could turn back the clock. “I’m having nightmares and I feel sorry for Gary’s family and friends – I wish it hadn’t happened. It was just a freak accident. If I could put back the clock, I wouldn’t have got into the car,” he said.
The trial is expected to finish before Judge John O’Hagan today.