DPP will appeal sof t sentence highlighted by the Mail
Serial criminal who drove into a garda may face jail
A DRINK-driver with 84 previous convictions who walked free from court after hitting an on-duty garda with his car is to have his sentence appealed.
Paul McGillion walked free from court in Co. Donegal earlier this month after being found guilty of endangering the life of Garda Michael Kil- coyne. Gda Kilcoyne had to undergo surgery after McGillion, 32, drove his Honda car at him in Letterkenny in the early hours of July 25, 2015.
Breath tests later revealed that McGillion was over the legal alcohol limit, was already banned from driving – and had no tax, insurance or driving licence.
The father-of-two blamed a combination of stress due to his dying grandmother and the fact that he was preparing for his marriage. Judge Terence O’Sullivan gave McGillion a three-year suspended sentence, meaning the accused would not have to serve a day in prison.
During sentencing, Judge O’Sullivan said he appreciated that the Court of Appeal had, in the past, been unhappy with the suspension of sentences, but said that if he was wrong (in his sentencing), he would be put right.
‘I have to try and sentence the offender and not the offence,’ he said at the time.Now the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to appeal the sentence to the Court of Appeal.
McGillion had committed the majority of his previous offences while living in Northern Ireland.
Letterkenny Circuit Court heard he had tried to turn his life around and was working with medical insurance claims company United Healthcare and had received three internal promotions. At the time of the offence, which took place after he went out socialising with friends from work on the night of July 24, 2015 – he had not committed an offence since 2011.
After going home, McGillion, of 1 Greenhills, Manorcunningham, then decided to get his car and drive back to Letterkenny.
He initially evaded gardaí who suspected him of being drunk behind the wheel, but after being spotted by gardaí on the town’s CCTV camera system, he was found hiding in his car at Larkin’s Lane. Garda Marcus O’Dowd told the court that when observed, officers managed to block off both ends of the lane and tried to arrest McGillion. However, he spun his wheels and drove to get away, hitting Gda Kilcoyne in his right upper leg with the right wing of his Honda car. Gda O’Dowd stood his ground as McGillion drove at him and only slammed on his brakes at the last second.
Gda O’Dowd tried to get the driver out of the car but he locked the doors and had to use his baton to smash the window.
Judge O’Sullivan said that if McGillion had not pleaded guilty he would be looking at serving five years in prison.
The judge also noted that the accused had shown remorse. Comment – Page 16
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