A man accused of the manslaughter of Garda Robbie McCallion in Co Donegal has been found not guilty.
Jamie McGrenaghan breathed a heavy sigh of relief as the jury at Letterkenny District Court returned with a unanimous verdict. A number of the late Gda McCallion's family and colleagues were left visibly stunned by the verdict.
McGrenaghan (19) of Gortnathraw, Cashel, Kerrykeel had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Gda McCallion (29) and also stealing a car.
The trial, which lasted almost three days, ended when the jury returned with a verdict after two and half hours.
During the trial the court had heard how the accused struck Gda McCallion in the early hours of March 26th, 2009, after himself and another man had stolen a car at Tara Court in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
Gda McCallion died in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on April 7th.
McGrenaghan's defence team had argued that he panicked on the night of the tragedy and was merely trying to escape.
Letterkenny Circuit Court heard how McGrenaghan and friend Cathal Dunleavy had been drinking in several pubs in the Fanad and Kerrykeel areas before driving to Letterkenny.
They went to see a car which was for sale at Tara Court but while there spotted another car, a white Toyota Corolla, which Dunleavy decided to steal.
The men returned later at 4am in McGrenaghan's Peugeot car and took the Toyota Corolla car.
However as they tried to leave the housing estate, they were met by three gardai.
The gardai noticed the door of the Corolla car was damaged and went to block the road.
McGrenaghan, who was behind the Corolla in his own car, immediately reversed back up the road and began revving is engine.
He then drove at the patrol car but veered to the left hitting the patrol car, the Corolla and sent Gda McCallion through the air and into a nearby garden. McGrenaghan tried to run away but was caught by Garda Shane Lavelle.
After being arrested McGrenaghan admitted he had run down Garda McCallion but said he did not mean it.
Before sending the jury out to consider their verdict Judge John O'Hagan had warned the 12 person jury that they could not change their minds once a decision was made.
He told the jury that in deciding their verdict they should be sure it as the right thing to do.
"There is tragedy on both sides and nobody can mend that. But you are asked to ask yourself if there was a high degree of negligence that led to manslaughter."
McGrenaghan will be sentenced on Friday next, February 11th.