Man Sentenced to Over Five Years in Jail for Reckless Driving and Burglary in Dublin

A man who attempted to ram a garda car following a high-speed chase in Dublin has been jailed for five years and three months. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard 48-year-old Mark Kavanagh also burgled a house while an 85-year-old man who was living alone was present. Kavanagh, of Mountainview Drive, Rathfarnham, also pleaded guilty to endangerment, criminal damage, dangerous driving, having no insurance and to failing to provide a blood or urine sample following the chase on 28 April 2024. He further pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and handling stolen property on two separate dates in 2024. Kavanagh has 168 previous convictions for offences including burglary, trespass, firearms and drugs offences.

Judge Orla Crowe imposed a global sentence of six years and nine months with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. Garda Joseph Whitty told the court he was on mobile patrol on 28 April 2024 on the Dundrum Road when a Ford Mondeo was noticed driving erratically and crossing the median, nearly hitting the kerb. As it was travelling towards the Wyckham Way roundabout, the car swerved across hatched markings and overtook a taxi at speeds in excess of 100km/ph, the court was told. It was later established that the car obtained a speed of 120km/h.

The car was out of control and was fishtailing with black smoke observed coming from it as it travelled past the Central Bank National Mint in Sandyford. It passed the traffic lights at the junction of the Sandyford village and at Lamb's Cross, it turned onto Blackglen Road. It slammed on the brakes and reversed back towards the patrol car but did not make contact with it. The car took off again and gardaí lost sight of it due to speed bumps on the road.

The car’s lights were turned off and an attempt was made to ram the patrol car but it did not make contact. The vehicle continued at speed until it hit a kerb at Whitechurch Road and the wheel broke off causing it to come to a stop. When apprehended, Kavanagh had a Stanley knife which he kicked away but there was no suggestion he was brandishing it towards gardaí who then arrested him.

The court was told Kavanagh is disqualified from driving until 2030 and was driving with no insurance and the car was taken without the owner’s permission in Dublin 14. 'No comment interview' He was arrested and interviewed on one occasion but it was effectively 'a no comment interview', the court heard. Under cross-examination, Gda Whitty agreed with Ian Woodland BL, defending, the incident happened in the early hours of the morning when not much traffic was on the road. Gda Whitty also agreed Kavanagh injured his leg saying: 'I think he fractured his ankle.' He further agreed his insurance covered €5,000 in damage.

In another bill, Garda Joseph Dolan told the court that Kavanagh also burgled the home of an 85-year-old man who was living alone at 3.30am on 10 June 2024. He told Marc Murphy BL, prosecuting, that on 10 June 2024 Kavanagh 'fished' keys out through the letterbox of a home in the Rathfarnham area. The 85-year-old victim was woken by the noise in the downstairs of his home. His living room had been disturbed and the alcohol cabinet had been moved but not taken. The only item stolen in that incident was a key of a car which remained in the driveway.

Kavanagh took a car outside a different address in Chuchtown and when he was taken in for questioning a car key and four payment cards were found in his possession. Kavanagh was taken to Rathfarnham Garda Station but at first was unfit for questioning. He was later interviewed twice but nothing of evidential value arose, the court was told. Gda Dolan agreed with Mr Woodland under cross-examination that the elderly man initially felt like he heard a noise at 3.30am in the morning but there was no encounter between him and Kavanagh. Garda Dolan also agreed Kavanagh had a severe drug addiction.

Garda Michael Fox told the court Kavanagh also pleaded guilty to a burglary at an address in Dublin 16 on 7 December 2024. The owner, who was at work, could see two males at the door on his ring doorbell and alerted gardaí who arrived shortly afterwards and observed two males coming down stairs wearing gloves and beanie hats. Kavanagh was arrested there and then for burglary and made no reply when charged. Two bedrooms were ransacked but no property was taken however, there was damage to the window to the front door which had been broken.

In mitigation, Mr Woodland told the court Kavanagh started using heroin at an early age and his mental health suffered. He is on an anti-psychotic medication and is also on methadone. He is finding prison difficult and is sharing a cell with three others, counsel said. Offending described as 'very serious' Judge Crowe described the offending as 'very serious'. Referring to the incident where Kavanagh attempted to reverse into a garda car twice, the judge noted that 'our guards go out and go out at night to keep people safe'.

She said it was aggravating that the victim of one burglary was an 85-year-old, and noted the vulnerability of the elderly and very young, describing them as categories in society which require 'special care'. She said Kavanagh's previous convictions and the fact he was on bail for some of his offending were among the aggravating factors and a consecutive element was necessary. Having imposed a global sentence of six years and nine months, the judge said the court noted Kavanagh had indicated a wish to turn his life around and would give him an opportunity to do so. She suspended the final 18 months of the global sentence on strict conditions and placed him under the supervision of the Probation Services for 12 months post-release. The judge also backdated the sentence to when Kavanagh went into custody last December and directed that he should be given credit for any time served in custody.