Man who led Gardaí on high-speed chase only got out of car after officers produced firearms

By Sonya McLean

A man who led gardaí on a high-speed chase, driving at over three times the speed limit, only got out of his vehicle when officers produced their firearms.

Kian Andrews (20) rammed two garda cars before he drove in the direction of Sergeant Daniel Cuffe who had come to the vehicle to get him out of the car.

The garda cars had corralled Andrews’ vehicle to prevent him driving further but he was still refusing to get out. Four officers had surrounded the car before Andrews put the car into gear, revved the engine and drove towards Sgt Cuffe.

Andrews of O’Rourke Park, Sallynoggin, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment, dangerous driving and possession of a small amount of drugs that was later found in the vehicle on December 27, 2022. He has 12 previous convictions.

Judge Martin Nolan jailed Andrews for three years and disqualified him from driving for three years.

He said Andrews had driven in a reckless and dangerous manner and the production of the firearms by gardaí had “the desired effect” and allowed them to arrest him.

Sgt Cuffe told Edward Doocey BL, prosecuting, that he was on patrol in the Sandyford and Dundrum area of Dublin around 2am on December 27 when he spotted a Toyota Avensis driving at high speed.

He noted that the car had been stolen the previous night and followed, later indicating to the driver to stop the vehicle.

The driver refused to do so and instead continued to drive at speeds in excess of 140 km/hr in a 50 km zone while travelling on the wrong side of the road. A motorist had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision, Sgt Cuffe told the court.

Andrews continued to drive in a similar manner, reaching a speed of 160 km/hr in a 50 km zone and again driving on the wrong side of the road.

Sgt Cuffe said Andrews then met a patrol car and performed a handbrake turn, spinning the vehicle 180 degrees in an attempt to evade gardaí. He then rammed the unmarked patrol car that Sgt Cuffe was driving, hitting the bumper of the vehicle.

Andrews continued to ram the other patrol car before both garda drivers manoeuvred their vehicles to block the Avensis. Officers were approaching the vehicle when Andrews made to drive it at Sgt Cuffe and gardaí then produced their weapons.

Andrews immediately put his hands up and co-operated. He was arrested but made no reply after caution. A small amount of cocaine and a flick knife were found in the car.

Sgt Cuffe agreed with Michael Bowman SC, defending, that it was “pure luck” that nobody was injured that night.

Mr Bowman told the court what his client did that night was “reprehensible” but submitted that Andrews has “potential and promise”. He had begun an apprenticeship as an electrician.

Counsel handed in a number of letters on behalf of Andrews from his mother, grand-mother and step-father. He had been previously diagnosed as having ADHD and is being medicated for it. He left school early and began taking drugs, Mr Bowman said.