A Garda revealed how he watched his colleague thrown up to 15 feet into the air after he was struck by a stolen car.
Garda Shane Lavelle revealed how Garda Robbie McCallion was hit by the car after responding to a call of a car robbery in Letterkenny, Co Donegal on March 26th 2009.
Garda McCallion died in hospital less than two weeks later on April 7th as a result of his injuries at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
The man driving the car, Jamie McGrenaghan, today pleaded not guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court to the manslaughter of Garda McCallion, who was aged 29.
McGrenaghan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing Garda McCallion’s death but he also pleaded not guilty to endangering the lives of two other gardaí on the same date.
Both of those gardai gave evidence in court about the moments leading up to and after the incident.
Garda McCallion, Garda Lavelle and Garda Joanne Doherty travelled together in a patrol car to Tara Court on the outskirts of Letterkenny where there had been a report of two men trying to steal a car.
When they got there they saw a white 1998 Toyota Corolla facing them with a man standing beside it.
Behind it was a red 1994 Peugeot being driven by McGrenaghan (19), of Gortnatra, Kerrykeel.
When the gardaí got out of the car, the driver of the Peugeot reversed it more than 100 yards and was revving loudly, the court heard.
The gardai then decided to put the car across the road behind the white Corolla in a bid to stop the Peugeot from escaping from the cul-de-sac.
However Mr McGrenaghan revved up the car and tried to drive between a gap to escape, the court was told.
Seconds later there was a very serious collision and Garda McCallion was struck and thrown into the next garden suffering serious injuries including head injuries.
Garda Lavelle said he went over to the driver of the car and demanded that he get out of the car.
However the driver, Jamie McGrenaghan, just looked down at the steering wheel before opening the door and then trying to flee down the road.
Garda Lavelle ran after him and caught him by the shoulder but Mr McGrenaghan, who was17 at the time, continued to try to get away.
Eventually Garda Lavelle drew his batton, wrestled Mr McGrenaghan to the ground and eventually managed to handcuff and arrest him, the court was told.
Garda Joanne Doherty said she did not see the stolen car hitting Garda McCallion as she had been crouching behind the patrol car fearing for her safety.
“All I saw was this car coming towards us at speed. I crouched behind the patrol car and heard a loud bang. Garda Lavelle told me to go to Garda McCallion.
“When I went over to him he was unconscious and there was a fence on his neck which I lifted off him to help him breathe,” she said.
The trial is expected to last three days.