Killer alleges brother tried to ram van off road

A double killer said he was left “terrified” after his brother allegedly attempted to ram his van off the road in an ongoing dispute over their father’s estate.

John Gallagher — who in 1988 killed mother and daughter Anne, 18, and Annie Gillespie, 51, in the grounds of Sligo Hospital — took his brother to court following an altercation between the pair.

John Gallagher alleged his brother, Donal, rammed his car on three occasions before fleeing the scene on August 16, 2013.

He told the court he thought his brother was genuinely going to kill him during the incident in Strabane, Co Tyrone.

“There wasn’t enough room for both vehicles to pass. Suddenly his vehicle just lunged at mine and he hit me head-on; he then reversed back as I reached for the phone to contact gardaí.

“I rang 999, and at that point I then observed him do a three-point turn on the road, I assumed at that point he was going to drive off, but he proceeded to drive into me again, he then went forward again and hit me a third time, he then drove off,” said Mr Gallagher.

John Gallagher called to Lifford Garda Station and showed them his car. He said there was damage worth €1,800 to his vehicle and added: “I pulled into the side of the road, I was trembling, absolutely trembling. I honestly genuinely believe he wanted to kill me.”

When asked by Inspector Michael Harrison at Letterkenny District Court if it could it have been an accident, John Gallagher responded: “Absolutely not, no way, no way it could’ve been an accident.”

Solicitor for the defendant, Kieran Dillon, told the court Donal Gallagher, who was charged with criminal damage and assault, said his brother drove the vehicle at him, and that he shunted the front of his car on at least three occasions.

Mr Dillon then suggested that John Gallagher cared more about not damaging his own car, than his brother.

John Gallagher replied: “No that’s not true, at the end of the day, he’s still my brother, it saddens me that we’re here again today.

“I didn’t ask for any of this, he drove at me, and I was genuinely fearful for my life.”

Garda Hardiman said John Gallagher seemed genuinely distressed when he called to the station.

Gardaí got CCTV footage from a postmaster and shop-owner close to where the incident occurred.

Judge Paul Kelly viewed the CCTV footage and then made his deliberations: “John Gallagher’s assertion of what happened is that he stopped, there was no room for two vehicles to pass at that point. He then says his brother then hit into him, and then performed a three-point turn and hit him again a few more times.

“However, on reviewing the footage the latter part of Mr Gallagher’s evidence didn’t happen. He turned his pick-up, reversed, and drove off, his evidence isn’t supported by the video evidence available.

“I therefore dismiss the charges against Donal Gallagher.”