Posted online: Dec 16th, 2009

A GARDA officer from Gurteen in Sligo has lost his colleague after their car was hit by a vehicle in Donegal.

Garda Gary McLoughlin (24) died in Letterkenny General Hospital on Sunday night after sustaining fatal injuries when his stationary patrol car was involved in a head-on collision, while responding to a call for assistance on Sunday morning.

The native of Feenagh, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim and his Sligo colleague, Garda Bernard McLoughlin (23), (no relation) were rushed to the hospital following the collision, at Lisfannon, near Buncrana, at 1.30am.

Bernard McLoughlin suffered leg and arm injuries and is in a stable condition. He was released from hospital on Monday evening and is expected to make a full recovery.

The gardai, who are based at Buncrana Garda Station, had been called to assist colleagues in an unmarked garda car in pursuit of an Opel Astra, which was heading towards the Derry border.

It is understood that officers in the unmarked garda car had recognised the driver of an Opel Astra, at the forecourt of a filling station, whom they believed was wanted on a warrant. They began pursuit but were unable to gain on the Astra, which was travelling at high speed.

The patrol car, being driven by Garda Gary McLoughlin was travelling in the direction of the border with a stinger on board when the Astra suddenly turned around and began driving back towards them.

The patrol car pulled in on the hard shoulder but the advancing car drove into the driver’s door, critically injuring the driver.