Man who killed Garda in Letterkenny seeks to reopen bid to have licence restored

A Donegal man found guilty of dangerous driving causing death after killing an on-duty Garda has reignited his case to have a lifetime driving ban lifted.

Jamie McGrenaghan, now 31, knocked down Garda Robbie McCallion at Tara Court in Letterkenny on March 26th, 2009.

The Mayo-born Garda, who was stationed in Letterkenny, suffered fatal injuries and died two weeks later in hospital from his injuries.

Having pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Garda McCallion, the accused was jailed for seven years on February 11th, 2011.

He served four and half years of this sentence and was released on December 23rd, 2014.

Having served 11 years of a lifetime driving ban, McGrenaghan has now once again instructed barristers to open his case in a bid to get back behind the wheel.

McGrenaghan's barrister, Mr Peter Nolan BL, applied to Judge John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Court to have a certificate extended to allow a senior counsel appointed to make an application in the case.

Describing the application as a 'complex legal matter', Mr Nolan said European Law would have to be opened to Judge Aylmer saying there are ‘complications about a life ban, etc’.

After some legal debate with State Solicitor for Donegal, Mr Kieran Dillon, Judge Aylmer said he was granting the application.

This is the second time McGrenaghan has relaunched a case seeking to have his license restored.

Garda Robbie McCallion.

In February, 2020, he appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he applied for the restoration of his driving license telling court that he had failed to get a number of jobs because he does not have a license.

Members of the late Garda McCallion’s family including his mother and father had traveled from Mayo for that court appearance. Several senior retired and serving members of An Garda Siochana were also present in court on that occasion.

In 2020, Mr Nolan outlined his client’s difficulties with not having a driving license.

He said he lived in a remote area called Gortnacobb in Fanad with his mother and returned from Dublin each weekend to spend time with her.

The court was told that there is very little public transport where McGrenaghan lives and that he has to get a lift to Bridgend on the Donegal/Derry border to be driven to Dublin each Monday morning for work.

At that previous court mention, Mr McGrenaghan took to the witness stand and said he was deeply sorry for what had happened to Garda McCallion.

He said: “It was a terrible mistake that day and I have lived with it all my life and I’m very sorry for what I done.”

When asked what came up whenever he Googled his name, McGrenaghan replied ‘cop killer’.

Mr Nolan also asked if he had anything to say to the family of the late Robbie McCallion who were in court and McGrenaghan added: “I’m very sorry for the harm and devastation I caused to your family. I’m just terribly sorry.”

However, after some legal debate on that occasion in 2020, Mr Nolan told the court that he was withdrawing his application.

Yesterday, Judge Aylmer said he was granting an extension of McGrenaghan’s legal aid to allow advice to be taken from a senior counsel.