Garda killer withdraws appeal against sentence for 'almost carbon copy' attack

local summary8 public source leads5 related reports

A man convicted of manslaughter in the death of a garda has withdrawn his appeal against a sentence imposed for a separate incident at a Covid-19 checkpoint in Donegal. Martin McDermott, aged 39 and of Abbey Park, Manorcunningham, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty at Donegal Circuit Court in March 2022 to charges including endangerment, assault, drink-driving and driving without a licence. The offences occurred on 14 April 2020 when McDermott accelerated towards Garda Kilcoyne at a checkpoint near Raymoghey, Manorcunningham, forcing the officer to jump clear. Following a pursuit and crash, McDermott assaulted the garda by kicking him. Judge John Aylmer sentenced him to five and a half years, with the final nine months suspended. McDermott's appeal against sentence severity came before the Court of Appeal on 10 June 2024. Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham noted McDermott's previous conviction for the manslaughter of Garda Gary McLoughlin in 2009, describing the current offences as an "almost carbon copy" of that earlier incident. Following consultation with his legal team, McDermott withdrew his appeal.

Source: Courts News Ireland This page is a localnews.ie summary and index entry; the full original report may require a publisher subscription.

Source links

Original report plus public source leads and related archive reports used for review context.

Public source leads

News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines | RTÉ rte.ie
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has decided to discontinue a controversial emergency Garda roster introduced to police during Covid-19 and revert to the previous roster.
Fourteen Irish flotilla activists detained by Israel arrive in Turkey ... irishtimes.com
1 day ago · Martin wrote to António Costa expressing his grave concern at the treatment of EU citizens, including some Irish people, who were illegally detained by the...
Garda who died in anti-Treaty IRA attack in 1923 among 12 Scott … thejournal.ie
9 hours ago · A GARDA WHO died in the course of an attack by the Anti-Treaty IRA in the 1920s is set to be recognised for bravery more than a century on at an event in...
Ireland needs to avoid political turmoil of UK - Martin - RTÉ rte.ie
4 days ago · Ireland "needs to avoid" the political turmoil occurring in the UK - which is "potentially on the cusp" of a seventh prime minister in a decade, Micheál...
Convicted Garda killer back in court on raft of charges - Donegal Daily Donegal Daily · Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:41:53 GMT
Garda killer granted bail on alleged criminal damage charges - Donegal Daily Donegal Daily · Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:54:19 GMT
Garda killer released on bail after allegedly assaulting Garda - Donegal Daily Donegal Daily · Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:41:53 GMT
Convicted garda killer who endangered another garda in Donegal withdraws appeal - Donegal Live Donegal Live · Mon, 10 Jun 2024 07:00:00 GMT

Related court reports

Abuser's appeal over alleged jury pressure during bad weather is dismissed Courts News Ireland · 2019-07-03
A man convicted of indecently assaulting a young teenager in 1980 has had his appeal dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Patrick Patton, aged 65, of Cashelard,...
Serial driving offender claims he was under threat from nephew Courts News Ireland · 2021-12-03
A 36-year-old Dublin man pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance following a high-speed chase through west Dublin on 27...
Violent burglar has sentence increased over attack led by Dessie O'Hare Courts News Ireland · 2019-04-12
A Dublin man who participated in a violent assault and false imprisonment as part of an organised eviction has had his prison sentence increased by the Court of Appeal....
Man jailed for repeated sexual assaults on babysitter has jail term cut on appeal Courts News Ireland · 2024-02-15
A Roscommon man convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl employed as a babysitter has had his sentence reduced on appeal. Michael King, aged 53 and...
Jail sentence for man who defiled girl (12) is upheld Courts News Ireland · 2023-06-09
A man's appeal against his four-year jail sentence for the sexual abuse of a child in County Cavan has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The appellant, now 23,...