Gunman held after city carjack terror
Panic at shopping centre as armed fugitive tackled
A MAN was tackled to the ground by gardaí outside a shopping centre yesterday, after he hijacked six cars while brandishing a gun, during a rampage across Dublin.
The dramatic arrest came after an eight-hour manhunt involving dozens of gardaí and the Garda helicopter across a number of Dublin’s suburbs.
The incident began after the man, who is serving a driving ban, had a row with his partner at Brookview Way in Tallaght.
The man stole his partner’s Audi and drove it to Jobstown, where he crashed it in Russell Square. He then stole a Citroën Berlingo van and abandoned it in Whitestown Way.
Next, the fugitive arrived at a house in the Watergate area of Tallaght at around 7am and rang the doorbell.
The owner answered and was shocked to find the man standing there with a sub-machine gun. He said the gunman broke a pane of glass with the butt of the gun, then hit him over the head, before stealing his Renault.
A high-speed car chase got under way in Tallaght and armed gardaí were called to the scene to patrol the area.
An appeal was made for the public to look out for a black Renault Kadjar, with registration number 16-D-8767.
Gardaí issued several reports throughout the day as the drama unfolded.
The assailant drove to the forecourt of a Topaz filling station and behaved aggressively.
There was then a five-hour gap during which time it is unknown where the man was before he surfaced again.
At lunchtime, the gunman abandoned the Renault on the Naas Road and then hijacked a silver Volvo as gardaí began to pursue him and the Garda helicopter went up.
The man had been spotted on the Ninth Lock Road in Clondalkin at one point and was described as wearing grey shorts, a green and black North Face jacket, and grey and navy runners.
He then hijacked a blue Subaru from a car dealership, abandoned that and hijacked a black Mercedes, in which he was chased by gardaí to the Citywest Shopping Centre.
The man dumped the highpowered sub-machine gun, before going into the shopping centre.
Sources told the Mail that he appeared to know the layout of the centre well, and was shouting ‘everybody out’.
He is seen on video footage taken at the scene, running from the shopping centre, before being brought to the ground and arrested by gardaí outside the centre, in front of dozens of shoppers at around 2pm.
The man was surrounded by up to ten patrol cars. Despite dozens of armed gardaí being in the vicinity, it was a uniformed and unarmed detective who wrestled him to the ground.
The arrested man is from Russell Square in Tallaght and has eight previous convictions, including getting an eight-year sentence for a botched supermarket raid in 2010.
He was also convicted in Oxford Crown Court in the UK for robbery and carjacking.
Sources have said it was a ‘miracle’ that no one was either killed or seriously injured yesterday.
Last night, the arrested man was being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 at Tallaght Garda Station. A firearm was recovered and is to be forensically tested. Investigating gardaí have recovered four samurai swords from a house in a follow-up search. A source said: ‘The incident began with a domestic disturbance with his partner, and he completely lost the rag.
‘He was driving up and down through Tallaght, doing handbrake turns and firing out the window.’
Local Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart commended the work of the gardaí in arresting the suspect.
He said: ‘Today’s events have been frightening for all those livingand particularlyin and around for Dublin residents West, in Tallaght. ‘While the exact detail of each incident unfolds as gardaí begin their investigation, I commend the work of each one of the members of An Garda Síochána that were involved in today’s successful operation. ‘I am relieved that there was no loss of life or major injury and that the armed suspect involved is now in Garda custody.’ Mr Lahart concluded: ‘The good work of local gardaí in keeping the public safe and protected from any harm should never be overlooked.’ Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to contact Tallaght Garda Station on (01) 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line, on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Stole six vehicles while on the run ‘A miracle’ that no one was killed