A GARDA has revealed how her colleague told her to jump out of the way of a stolen car just minutes before he was mown down.
Garda Robbie McCallion died from his injuries days after being struck by a stolen car at Tara Court, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, on April 7th, 2009.
The diver of the car, Jamie McGrenaghan, appeared in court yesterday charged with the manslaughter of Garda McCallion.
The court heard how, at 4.30am on March 26th, gardaí in Letterkenny received a call saying two young males were acting suspiciously around a car at Tara Court. They arrived at the scene and saw a white Toyota Corolla car with a young man holding a rope in front of it. There was also a red Peugeot 306 behind it with lights on and the engine running.
Garda McCallion, who was originally from Co Mayo, along with colleagues Garda Joanne Doherty and Garda Shane Lavelle, approached the men but Mr McGrenaghan reversed the Peugeot car back up the road and began revving the engine. Garda Lavelle then told Garda McCallion to place the patrol car across the road as there was only one way out of the cul-de-sac, the court heard.
Mr McGrenaghan, of Gortnatraw, Kerrykeel, then began revving the engine and screeching his tyres before driving towards the gardaí.
Garda Doherty told the court: “It was coming straight towards us and was going to hit my door. Garda McCallion told me to run and I ran to the back of the patrol car.” Garda Doherty then said she had heard a loud bang and saw the Peugeot travelling through the air before coming to a standstill.
Garda Lavelle said he saw Mr McGrenaghan drive the car towards him and estimated it was travelling at 40mph.
He said he saw Garda McCallion trying to jump out of the way of the car but he was struck by the bonnet and windscreen of the car.
“I saw him being hit by the windscreen and bonnet of the car and it threw him 10 to 15ft up into the air and he then disappeared into the dark,” said Garda Lavelle.
Garda Lavelle then ordered Mr McGrenaghan, who was 17 at the time, to get out of the car but he refused. The accused then jumped out of the passenger door and made an attempt to escape by running down the road. Garda Lavelle gave chase and finally caught up with Mr McGrenaghan after shouting at him to stop before striking him with his baton.
Garda Doherty had driven the patrol car down to collect Mr McGrenaghan and asked Garda Lavelle where Garda McCallion was. They realised that Garda McCallion had been thrown over a wall and into a garden.
“I could see there was something lying in the field,” Garda Doherty said.
Defence barrister Denis Vaughan-Buckley said Mr McGrenaghan was with another man, Cathal Dunleavy, who had 32 previous convictions for burglary, car theft and other crimes whereas his client had no previous convictions at the time. He said Mr McGrenaghan had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Garda McCallion and to stealing the car.
The case continues.