‘Insanity’: 48 hours of high-speed chases end in thug’s arrest

A ‘DERANGED and psychotic’ on-the-run criminal is finally in custody, after a 48-hour ‘rampage’ involving several Garda and PSNI chases.

The hunt involved a ramming incident – in scenes that saw the criminal drive at speeds of up to 180kph.

Sources say senior gardaí are ‘hugely relieved’ that the ‘dangerous and armed criminal’ has been caught, following numerous car chases across the border, which involved assistance from the PSNI, as well as high-speed chases in counties Monaghan, Louth and Meath.

The suspect left jail several months ago where he had been jailed for three years for a serious crime involving a stolen car. However, sources say he is ‘a far more serious criminal than his convictions reflect’.

The prolific car thief and burglar had been on the run since 7am on Wednesday, when he opened fire at his girlfriend’s home in Co. Louth following a furious row.

He was finally arrested in a car at 6.15am yesterday in Hackballscross, in Co. Louth.

Just hours earlier, he is suspected of ramming a Garda patrol car at Inniskeen in Co. Monaghan, before setting his car alight several miles away, just outside Kells in Co. Meath.

Sources revealed that gardaí recovered a handgun in the charred vehicle.

Hours later, the on-the-run criminal was spotted in another car in Hackballscross. Before he could flee, it is understood that several Garda cars – including armed officers from specialist units – swooped on the vehicle and arrested him.

A senior source told the Irish Daily Mail that efforts to locate the criminal were given a ‘high priority’ as soon as he fled with a handgun after he opened fire on his girlfriend’s home on Wednesday morning.

Several others were in the house and it is ‘lucky’ he didn’t hit anyone when he indiscriminately fired.

Gardaí believe the criminal was also taking cocaine during his ensuing ‘48-hour rampage’.

Sources say the man, who has convictions for violent car theft as well as burglary, is ‘one of the most dangerous and volatile criminals operating on both sides of the border’.

In an unusual move following the domestic dispute, gardaí released details of his car’s registration, make, model and colour. Gardaí asked the public to contact them if they saw the car.

In the 36 hours that followed, it is understood the man travelled ‘at least three times’ back and forth over the border. There were ‘a number of high-speed chases’.

However, sources reveal that when he drove at speeds of up to 180kph, it was unsafe to pursue.

‘There were unbelievable scenes. He was driving at speeds that gardaí simply will not chase at. It is too dangerous for other motorists and pedestrians. It was insanity.

‘He was even driving on the wrong side of the road on occasions as he crossed the border. He just kept passing over the border, almost goading us all... He must have changed cars three times.’

The source added it was 48 hours of ‘high pressure’ for gardaí, who knew he had a firearm and the ‘potential to kill’.

‘Aside from that, all motorists were at risk. There was a real sense of fear that Garda management could be dealing with a carnage situation...

‘He is one of the worst and most dangerous men in a car, and out of it as well, when armed.’

After what has been described as a ‘cat-and-mouse game’ across the border, the criminal eventually stopped in the small village of Inniskeen in Co. Monaghan on Thursday night.

When a patrol car pursued his vehicle, he rammed it and then ‘put the foot down’ until he arrived just outside Kells.

There he set his car alight. It was recovered late on Thursday. The firearm believed to have been used in the shooting at his girlfriend’s home was found in it.

He then made his way to Hackballscross, where he was spotted within hours in yet another car.

Uniformed and undercover gardaí swooped and he was taken into custody at 6.15am yesterday.

In a statement, gardaí said the arrest came after an ‘intense Garda operation’, ‘supported by the Regional Armed Support Unit and National units’ and PSNI.

Speaking yesterday at Drogheda Garda Station, Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan thanked the public and praised his colleagues for their dedication to keeping the people of Louth safe.

He was almost goading police