Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 13552Assault on a Garda and endangerment · Co. Longford · 17 Feb 2024

Man jailed for reversing into Garda patrol car in Longford

John Baxter, 29, of Callanagh, Kilcogy, Co Cavan, was sentenced on 3 June 2025 to three years in prison, with the final nine months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to endangerment at Longford Circuit Court. The sentence follows an incident on 17 February 2024 at the Pound Street and Ballymahon Street junction in Edgeworthstown, Longford, where Baxter reversed at high speed into a stationary Garda patrol car, injuring its driver, Garda Karl McNabola. Baxter was originally charged with assaulting a Garda causing harm, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, and endangerment, but the state withdrew the three counts other than endangerment after his guilty plea on 13 May 2025. The sentence is to run concurrently with one Baxter is already serving, and the court noted his 51 previous convictions, including 15 for dangerous driving.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court3 Feb
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced3 Jun
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Baxter reversed at high speed into a stationary Garda patrol car, damaging the grill and disabling the vehicle as its engine cut out.
Where
The incident took place at the Pound Street and Ballymahon Street junction, Edgeworthstown, Longford.
When
The incident occurred on 17 February 2024.
Cause
Baxter drove off at speed when the patrol car stopped him, the Garda chased him, and Baxter then stopped and reversed into the patrol car.
Investigation
Gardaí identified Baxter from CCTV stills downloaded from a petrol station, and a check showed the vehicle's tax had expired a number of months earlier.
Charges
Baxter was originally charged with assaulting a Garda causing harm under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, and endangerment.
In court
  • The case was returned for trial in the Circuit Court on 21 January 2025 on a single charge, with bail on a €200 own bond and an alibi warning issued.
  • Baxter pleaded guilty to endangerment on 13 May 2025 and the state withdrew the remaining three counts.
Sentence
Baxter was sentenced on 3 June 2025 to three years in prison, with the final nine months suspended for two years, to run concurrently with a sentence he is already serving.
Other details
  • Baxter had 51 previous convictions, including 15 for dangerous driving, and at the time of the incident was disqualified from driving and on bail for an earlier driving offence.
  • Two medical reports recorded that Garda McNabola suffered substantial soft tissue injuries, neck and shoulder pain, was mentally traumatised, and was off work for a year.
37 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man with 15 previous convictions for dangerous driving was jailed for intentionally reversing his vehicle into a garda patrol car and injuring its driver. (rte.ie)
  • whatBaxter reversed at high speed into the patrol car. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe patrol car's grill was damaged and the vehicle was disabled as its engine cut out. (rte.ie)
  • whatA man was jailed for intentionally reversing his vehicle into a Garda patrol car and injuring its driver. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatBaxter came to a stop and then reversed at high speed into the patrol car. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatDamage was caused to the grill of the patrol car and the vehicle was disabled as the engine cut out. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe alleged assault took place at Longfield, Edgeworthstown. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident involved the official Edgeworthstown patrol car, at the Pound Street and Ballymahon Street junction. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe patrol car was stationary at the traffic lights at the Pound Street and Ballymahon Street junction when the car caught the Garda's attention. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe alleged assault took place on 17 February 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe endangerment incident occurred on 17 February 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe sentence was finalised on Tuesday, 3 June. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeBaxter drove off at speed when the garda got out of the patrol car, and the garda chased him. (rte.ie)
  • causeBaxter drove off at speed after the patrol car stopped him, and the Garda chased him. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationA check of the vehicle indicated that its tax had expired a number of months earlier. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí downloaded CCTV stills from the petrol station and identified Baxter from them. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeJohn Baxter faced a charge of assaulting Karl McNabola causing him harm, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeBaxter pleaded guilty to a charge of endangerment at Longford Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
  • chargeBaxter was originally charged with assaulting a Garda and causing him harm, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, and endangerment. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtA Garda told the judge she served the defendant with the Book of Evidence on the morning of the court sitting. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe case was returned for trial in the Circuit Court on Tuesday 21 January on a single charge. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Bernadette Owens sent the matter forward on one count, with consent to bail on Mr Baxter's own bond of €200. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtBaxter's defence counsel said he had a large family and that his older brother had taken his own life, and that threats had been made against him. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe judge noted Baxter's 51 previous convictions, including 15 for dangerous driving. (rte.ie)
  • courtBaxter pleaded guilty to endangerment in May and the state withdrew the remaining three counts. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtBaxter first appeared before Longford Circuit Court in January. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceBaxter was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final nine months suspended for two years. (rte.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence will run concurrently with the one Baxter is currently serving. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence is to run concurrently with the one Baxter is currently serving. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defendant was issued with an alibi warning requiring notice to the prosecution within 14 days. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherBaxter left the scene and drove towards the N4. (rte.ie)
  • otherTwo medical reports stated that the garda suffered substantial soft tissue injuries and pain to his neck, right shoulder joint and back. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe garda was off work for a year after the incident. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe Garda's medical reports recorded substantial soft tissue injuries, neck and shoulder pain, and that he was mentally traumatised. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe Garda said the incident changed how he does his job and that he was off work for a year. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherBaxter had 51 previous convictions, including 15 for dangerous driving. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherAt the time of the incident Baxter was disqualified from driving and on bail for an earlier driving offence. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Jun2025
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford Garda ‘thought of colleagues who were killed’ as ‘menace to society’ crashed into patrol car

    Sentencing report for an incident from February 2024 in Longford town. No existing case matched. Adds the guilty plea, the sentence, the prior convictions and the Garda victim's account.

    convicted, John Baxter, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Baxtervictim, Karl McNabola, male, irish (judged from name)Karl McNabola
  2. 3 Jun2025
    Sentencedrte.ie, its first report
    Man jailed for reversing vehicle into garda patrol car

    Adds the court account of the incident, the victim's injuries and impact statement, the defence mitigation, the judge's remarks on Baxter's 51 previous convictions, and the sentence, which is to run concurrently with the one he is already serving.

    convicted, John Baxter, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Baxtervictim, Karl McNabola, male, irish (judged from name)Karl McNabola
  3. 3 Feb2025
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Assault case to go before Longford Circuit Court

    Reports the case being returned for trial in the Circuit Court on 21 January, with bail of €200 on his own bond and an alibi warning issued. The article does not mention the earlier sentencing reported in the existing case.

    accused, John Baxter, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Baxtervictim, Karl McNabola, irish (judged from name)Karl McNabola