Garda killer Martin McDermott shouted abuse at a judge in Derry who remanded him in custody this morning (Saturday) on charges of assaulting police officers and criminal damage.
The 26 year-old pleaded guilty to the offences, which happened when he arrested by the PSNI in Altcar Park in Galliagh yesterday morning, a day after he absconded from Loughan House open prison. He was serving a seven year sentence there for the manslaughter of Garda Gary McLoughlin.
Judge John Meehan refused an application for bail and remanded McDermott to appear again by videolink on Thursday.
McDermott then began shouting abuse and called the judge a “f***ing w***er”.
He was taken away by police and after a short time brought back into court and apologised to the judge, who fined him £150 for misbehaviour in court.
McDermott was found guilty of manslaughter in Letterkenny Circuit Court last July. In December 2009 he drove at high speed into an unmarked garda patrol car outside Burt while more than twice over the drink-drive limit. Garda McLoughlin, who was 24 and from Ballinamore in County Leitrim, later died of his injuries. Another garda was seriously injured.
The Minister for Justice in the Republic, Alan Shatter, has apologised to the family of the late Garda McLoughlin, while the Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the escape shouldn’t have happened. It’s understood McDermott was transferred to the open prison about a fortnight ago.
McDermott’s address was given as ‘no fixed abode’ in court yesterday. He was previously said to be from Raphoe.
See full report in tomorrow’s Sunday Journal.
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