Ireland Case No. 21057Dangerous driving causing serious harm · Co. Cork · 8 Apr 2021
Cork man jailed over dragging garda along road in Creagh, Baltimore
On 8 April 2021 at Creagh, Baltimore, Co Cork, Martin Keohane, a 34-year-old man of Derrygareen, Skibbereen, drove off while Detective Garda Catherine McCarthy was holding the car door, dragging her about 80 feet along a road before she was pushed from the moving vehicle. Keohane was arrested after the incident, and on 12 May 2023 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court he was remanded in custody until 18 May after pleading guilty to several charges. On 18 May 2023 Judge Helen Boyle jailed him for four years with the last year suspended and disqualified him from driving for four years, although the headline and opening report of one article gave the term as three years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court12 May
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced18 May
5 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Keohane drove off while Detective Garda McCarthy was hanging from the driver's door and dragged her about 80 feet along a road.
- McCarthy was pushed from the moving car, and the rear wheel rolled over her ankle as she lay on the road.
- Where
- The incident took place at Creagh, Baltimore, Co Cork.
- When
- The incident happened on 8 April 2021.
- Cause
- Detectives from the West Cork Divisional Drugs Squad were carrying out surveillance on a remote road in Creagh when McCarthy approached the car after seeing Keohane buy cannabis from a dealer.
- Other details
- McCarthy suffered back and neck injuries and ankle injuries, and she has constant pain; the back and neck injuries still affect her work and family life.
- McCarthy has returned to her duties.
- Keohane admitted his guilt, expressed remorse, apologised, and offered McCarthy €2,500 in compensation, which she declined.
- The judge categorised the endangerment as being at the higher end of the scale for such offences.
- Investigation
- Keohane was arrested in the aftermath of the incident.
- The day after the incident, Keohane met gardaí, made admissions and apologised.
- Charges
- Keohane pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of dangerous driving causing serious harm to McCarthy, endangerment, impeding a garda, and possession of cannabis for sale or supply.
- In court
- The case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Helen Boyle.
- On 12 May 2023 the victim impact statement was read and Keohane was remanded in custody until 18 May 2023.
- Sentence
- On 18 May 2023 Keohane was jailed for four years with the last year suspended and disqualified from driving for four years; the headline and opening report of one article gave the jail term as three years.
65 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe driver pulled off with the detective hanging from the driver's door and dragged her along the road. (rte.ie)
- whatA sergeant told the court the detective was dragged for approximately 80ft before being pushed from the moving vehicle. (rte.ie)
- whatKeohane drove off while Garda McCarthy was hanging from the car door, dragging her along a road. (rte.ie)
- whatGarda McCarthy was dragged about 80 feet along a road while hanging from a car door. (thejournal.ie)
- whatKeohane accelerated away at reckless speed towards Skibbereen. (thejournal.ie)
- whatKeohane's vehicle drove over Garda McCarthy's ankle. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMartin Keohane drove off and dragged a detective for over 80 feet along a roadway in West Cork while she tried to intercept a drug deal. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDet Garda McCarthy was dragged for approximately 80 feet until she was pushed from the moving vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDet Garda McCarthy suffered back and neck injuries that still affect her work and family life. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDet Garda McCarthy suffered injuries to her ankle when Keohane's rear wheel went over her foot. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDet Garda McCarthy was dragged about 80 feet along a road while hanging from a car door. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man was jailed for subjecting a garda to a terrifying ordeal. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe garda was dragged about 80 feet along a road while hanging from a car door. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe incident took place in Creagh, Baltimore, Co Cork. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at Creagh in Baltimore, Co Cork. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at Creagh in Baltimore, West Cork. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at Creagh, Baltimore, Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident happened at Creagh in Baltimore, County Cork. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on 8 April 2021. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 8 April 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident happened on April 8, 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí suspected a drugs transaction was taking place in a car on a remote road in Creagh. (rte.ie)
- causeGarda McCarthy approached the car after witnessing Martin Keohane buying cannabis from a dealer. (rte.ie)
- causeGarda McCarthy had witnessed Keohane buying cannabis from a dealer. (thejournal.ie)
- causeGardaí approached a car on a remote road at Creagh suspecting a drugs transaction was taking place. (irishtimes.com)
- causeGardaí had witnessed Keohane buying cannabis from a dealer before the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe garda had seen the man buying cannabis from a dealer. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationKeohane was arrested in the aftermath of the incident. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetectives from the West Cork Divisional Drugs Squad were carrying out surveillance on a remote country road in Creagh. (rte.ie)
- investigationDetectives were carrying out surveillance on a remote country road in Creagh, Baltimore. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationKeohane met gardaí the day after the incident, made admissions and apologised. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man was arrested in the aftermath of the incident. (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeKeohane pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm to the detective. (rte.ie)
- chargeKeohane pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm, obstructing a garda and unlawful possession of cannabis for sale and supply. (rte.ie)
- chargeKeohane pleaded guilty to three dangerous driving causing serious harm charges against Garda McCarthy. (rte.ie)
- chargeKeohane also pleaded guilty to endangerment, impeding a garda, and possession of cannabis for sale or supply. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeKeohane pleaded guilty to three dangerous driving causing serious harm charges. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeKeohane pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to three other charges. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKeohane also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKeohane pleaded guilty to three charges of dangerous driving causing serious harm to Garda McCarthy. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to three dangerous driving causing serious harm charges. (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeHe also pleaded guilty to endangerment, impeding a garda and possession of cannabis for sale or supply. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtThe judge remanded Keohane in custody until his next court appearance on 18 May. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Helen Boyle. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- courtJudge Helen Boyle presided over the case. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceKeohane was jailed for four years, with the last year suspended. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceKeohane was disqualified from driving for four years. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe opening report says Keohane was jailed for three years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceKeohane was sentenced to four years in jail with one year suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge jailed him for four years, suspending the last year. (corkbeo.ie)
- sentenceHe was disqualified from driving for four years. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe detective said the car's back wheel ran over her ankle as she lay on the road. (rte.ie)
- otherThe detective has constant pain in her neck, mid and lower back. (rte.ie)
- otherDetective Garda McCarthy has returned to her duties. (rte.ie)
- otherKeohane admitted his guilt and expressed remorse for his behaviour. (rte.ie)
- otherKeohane offered €2,500 in compensation to the garda, which she declined. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherGarda McCarthy has returned to her duties. (rte.ie)
- otherKeohane offered €2,500 in compensation, which the garda declined. (thejournal.ie)
- otherKeohane apologised to Garda McCarthy. (thejournal.ie)
- otherGarda McCarthy was the first woman appointed to the Divisional Drugs Unit. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge noted Keohane's guilty plea, remorse and apology. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKeohane brought €2,500 to court as compensation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge categorised the endangerment as being at the higher end of the scale for such offences. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe offered €2,500 in compensation to the garda, which she declined. (corkbeo.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 May2023Cork man jailed for dragging garda 80ft along a road as she hung from car door
Sentencing report. The headline and lede say three years, but the body says the judge jailed him for four years with the last year suspended. The article also says he was disqualified from driving for four years.
convicted, Martin Keohane, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Keohanevictim, Catherine McCarthy, female, irish (judged from name)Catherine McCarthy - 18 May2023Man jailed for dragging Garda from car door as her life flashed before her eyes
Reports the sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The headline says he was jailed for three years, but the article text says four years with the last year suspended.
convicted, Martin Keohane, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Keohanevictim, Det Garda Catherine McCarthy, female, irish (judged from name)Det Garda Catherine McCarthy - 18 May2023Motorist jailed for dragging garda along roadway after she tried to intercept drug deal
Sentencing report on a specific case. No existing case in the list matches this incident.
convicted, Martin Keohane, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Keohanevictim, Catherine McCarthy, female, irish (judged from name)Catherine McCarthy - 18 May2023Man jailed for dragging Garda on road in Cork, leaving her with life changing injuries
Full sentencing report from Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Adds the guilty pleas, the four-year sentence with the last year suspended, the four-year driving ban, the victim impact statement, and the compensation offer. The opening line gives a three-year jail term, while the body gives four years with one suspended.
victim, Catherine McCarthy, female, irish (judged from name)Catherine McCarthyconvicted, Martin Keohane, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Keohane - 18 May2023Man jailed after garda dragged along road in west Cork
Reports the sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Helen Boyle. The headline says three years, while the body says a four-year sentence with the last year suspended. Adds Keohane's guilty pleas, remorse, his offer of €2,500 compensation (declined by the garda), and the four-year driving ban.
victim, Catherine McCarthy, female, irish (judged from name)Catherine McCarthyconvicted, Martin Keohane, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Keohane - 12 May2023Court hears Garda dragged along road from car window
Reports the sentencing hearing on 12 May 2023, where the victim impact statement was read and Keohane was remanded in custody. Adds the drugs-squad surveillance account, the victim's injuries, and the guilty pleas to obstructing a garda and possession of cannabis for sale or supply.
victim, Detective Garda Catherine McCarthy, female, irish (judged from name)Detective Garda Catherine McCarthyconvicted, Martin Keohane, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Keohane