A man who tried to ram a garda vehicle during a high-speed pursuit in Dublin has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison, reports RTE.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that 48-year-old Mark Kavanagh also broke into a home while an elderly man, aged 85 and living alone, was inside.
Kavanagh, residing at Mountainview Drive, Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty to charges of endangerment, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and refusing to provide a blood or urine sample following the incident on 28 April 2024, reports RTE.
He also admitted to two counts of burglary and to handling stolen goods on separate occasions earlier in 2024.
Kavanagh has a long criminal record with 168 previous convictions, including offences related to burglary, trespassing, firearms, and drugs, reports RTE.
Judge Orla Crowe handed down a combined sentence of six years and nine months, with the final 18 months suspended under strict conditions.
Garda Joseph Whitty testified that on 28 April 2024, while patrolling Dundrum Road, he noticed a Ford Mondeo driving unpredictably, swerving across lanes and nearly striking the curb, reports RTE.
As the vehicle approached the Wyckham Way roundabout, it weaved across hatched road markings and overtook a taxi at over 100km/h, later reaching a speed of 120km/h, the court heard.
The car was seen skidding and producing black smoke as it passed the Central Bank National Mint in Sandyford, reports RTE.
It ran a red light at the Sandyford village junction and turned onto Blackglen Road at Lamb’s Cross. After slamming on the brakes, it reversed toward the garda car but didn’t hit it. It then sped off again and gardaà lost sight of it due to road bumps.
The driver turned off the vehicle’s lights and tried to ram the patrol car, but again didn’t make contact. It continued at high speed until hitting a kerb on Whitechurch Road, where the wheel detached, bringing it to a halt, reports RTE.
Upon arrest, Kavanagh had a Stanley knife, which he kicked away. There was no indication he threatened the gardaà with it, and he was taken into custody.
The court heard that Kavanagh was disqualified from driving until 2030, had no insurance, and the vehicle had been taken without permission in the Dublin 14 area, reports RTE.
He was arrested and interviewed once, but the interview yielded little as it was described as “a no comment interview”.
During cross-examination, Garda Whitty agreed with Ian Woodland BL, defending, that the incident occurred in the early morning when traffic was light.
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Garda Whitty also acknowledged that Kavanagh had injured his leg, saying: “I think he fractured his ankle.” He also confirmed insurance covered €5,000 worth of damage, reports RTE.
In a separate case, Garda Joseph Dolan testified that Kavanagh burgled the home of an elderly man, aged 85, who lived alone, at around 3:30am on 10 June 2024.
Prosecutor Marc Murphy BL was told by Garda Dolan that on that date, Kavanagh “fished” keys through the letterbox of a house in the Rathfarnham area, reports RTE.
The elderly man was awakened by sounds from downstairs. His living room had been disturbed, and his alcohol cabinet had been moved, but not taken. The only thing stolen was a car key, though the car remained in the driveway.
Kavanagh later stole a car from another home in Churchtown, and when arrested, he was found with a car key and four payment cards, reports RTE.
He was brought to Rathfarnham Garda Station, but initially deemed unfit for questioning. He was interviewed twice later, but nothing significant came from the interviews, the court heard.
Under cross-examination, Garda Dolan agreed with Mr Woodland that the elderly resident only recalled hearing a sound at 3:30am and never encountered Kavanagh directly, reports RTE.
Garda Dolan also acknowledged Kavanagh had a serious addiction to drugs.
Garda Michael Fox told the court that Kavanagh also admitted to a burglary at a property in Dublin 16 on 7 December 2024.
The homeowner, who was at work, noticed two men at the front door via his ring doorbell and alerted gardaÃ. Officers arrived quickly and saw two men descending the stairs wearing gloves and beanies, reports RTE.
Kavanagh was arrested at the scene and didn’t respond when charged. Two bedrooms had been ransacked, but nothing was stolen. However, a window on the front door was broken.
In cross-examination, Garda Fox said to Mr Woodland that Kavanagh “dropped the property and put his hands up”, reports RTE.
In mitigation, Mr Woodland told the court Kavanagh began using heroin at a young age, which impacted his mental health. He is currently on anti-psychotic medication and methadone. Prison has been challenging for him, as he shares a cell with three others, counsel added.
Judge Crowe called the crimes “very serious”. On the incident involving the attempted ramming of the garda vehicle, she remarked that “our guards go out and go out at night to keep people safe”, reports RTE.
She said it was especially troubling that one of the burglaries targeted an 85-year-old, noting the vulnerability of the elderly and young, whom society should afford “special care”.
She cited Kavanagh’s extensive criminal history and the fact he committed offences while on bail as aggravating factors, making a consecutive sentence appropriate, reports RTE.
After imposing a global sentence of six years and nine months, the judge acknowledged Kavanagh’s stated desire to reform and said the court would give him the opportunity to do so.
She suspended the last 18 months of his sentence under strict conditions and placed him under Probation Services supervision for 12 months following release.
The sentence was also backdated to when Kavanagh entered custody in December, and the judge ordered that any time already served be credited, reports RTE.
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