A judge has slammed a driver for carrying out a “mirror image” of a road crime which killed a young Garda.
Garda Robbie McCallion died when he was struck by a car during an attempted car robbery in Letterkenny in March 2009.
Now a 19 year old man has appeared in the same Circuit Court following a similar incident.
Owen Orr was charged with endangerment after a Garda had to jump into a garden to avoid being mowed down.
Garda Sgt Eunan Walsh had to scramble to safety when Orr, then 17, drove at him in a Honda Integra car at Foxhills, Letterkenny in 2010.
Letterkenny Circuit Court heard Orr of Trentamucklagh, St Johnston, had 19 previous convictions when he was arrested.
Gardai had gone to Foxhills to investigate an incident.
When they got there they noticed a car at the top of the estate.
Garda Sgt Durcan revealed how he heard the car “drop a gear” and speed towards them.
Sgt Walsh, who had a torch and was in fully Garda gear, had to jump out of the way to safety.
“If he hadn’t got out of the way he would have been seriously injured or killed,” said Sgt Durcan.
Sgt Walsh told Judge John O’Hagan that he was shaken for a couple of days but he considered himself well-rounded and got over it.
When asked what he thought of the man who tried to run him over, Sgt Walsh said “He has had a troubled upbringing and I don’t think he knows much else.”
Orr addressed the court and said he was a different person from the one during this incident in 2010 and that he was truly sorry.
Judge John O’Hagan said the consequences of what could have happened are quite appalling.
“A very similar incident occurred here in Co Donegal and a Garda lost his life. The car didn’t miss – it hit him. He (the driver) was convicted of dangerous driving causing death.
“Here we are in September 2010 and we have a young man practically carrying out a mirror image,” he said.
However Judge O’Hagan said he felt time was a healer and he felt Orr had moved on.
“I feel that this is the end of your wanderings but if you don’t show faith in what I am doing with you I will not spare the rod.”
He adjourned the case until January to see how Orr behaved himself.