Man denies Garda Robbie McCallion manslaughter charge

Two young men today admitted charges linked to the death of Garda Robbie McCallion in Co. Donegal last year.
Jamie McGrenaghan, 19, who was driving a car registered in 1998, admitted driving it dangerously and causing the death of 29-year-old Gda McCallion at Tara Court Letterkenny, on March 26 last year.
21 year-old Cathal Dunleavy of Meentagh, Glenvar, Kerrykeel, who was with McGrenaghan, pleaded guilty to unlawfully taking the 1994 car on March 26 last year without the consent of its owner.
At Letterkenny Circuit Court today James McGrenaghan also admitted taking unlawful possession at Tara Court of a 1994 car, the property of Sonia O’Brien.
He denied the manslaughter of Gda McCallion on April 7th, 2009, the day the garda died in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
McGrenaghan, of Gortnatraw, Cashel, Kerrykeel, also pleaded not guilty to recklessly driving the car in the direction of gardai Joanne Doherty and Shane Lavelle at Tara Court on March 26.
Cathal Dunleavy, 21, of Meentagh, Glenvar, Kerrykeel, who was with McGrenaghan, pleaded guilty to unlawfully taking the 1994 car On March 26 last year without the consent of the ownert.
Garda McCallion, a native of Swinford, Co. Mayo, who was based in Letterkenny, died in hospital from injuries received when investigating reports of a stolen car.
His parents, retired garda Bob and Nancy, and his older brother John, also a garda, were in court.
Dunleavy, who was already in custody simply said “Guilty” when the sole charge was put to him.
He was remanded in custody to next Wednesday when Judge John O’Hagan will hear details and sentence him.
The first charge read to McGrenaghan was the manslaughter charge.
He said “not guilty”. He also said “not guilty” when accused of recklessly driving a car towards gardai Joanne Doherty and Shane Lavelle.
He uttered “guilty” when accused of dangerous driving of the ’98 car, causing the death of Gda McCallion.
He said “guilty” when the fourth charge was put to him – that he took the ’94 car without the permission of the owner.
McGrenaghan was also remanded in custody to the next sessions of the Circuit Court at the end of October.