Tribute has been paid in the High Court to a garda who attempted to save the life of his “colleague and best friend” who died shortly after their patrol car had been rammed in Co Donegal three years ago.
Garda Bernard McLoughlin told Ms Justice Mary Irvine that after finding a pulse, he held his colleague Garda Gary McLoughlin’s head in a recovery position in their wrecked car until emergency services arrived.
Michael Carson SC, for Garda Bernard McLoughlin, told a Garda compensation hearing yesterday that Gary McLoughlin had died in hospital just hours after the crash.
Garda Bernard McLoughlin, who, since the crash on December 13th, 2009, has taken educational leave to study in Australia, was awarded €45,000 compensation for hip and leg injuries.
Ms Justice Irvine said the two men who shared the same surname were more than colleagues. They were best friends who had shared a flat and had trained together in Templemore before sharing Garda duties in Buncrana, Co Donegal.
In July 2011, Martin McDermott, Raphoe, Co Donegal, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for the manslaughter of Garda McLoughlin.