By Declan Brennan
A drug addict was “covered in cocaine” when gardai caught him fleeing from his car after a high-speed chase across the city, a court has heard.
On the night of January 3 last (2025), Scott Capper (37) drove at speed across the north Dublin suburbs of Sutton, Howth and Baldoyle. On a number of points during the multi-vehicle chase, he drove at speed at garda patrol cars, forcing the driver to take evasive action to avoid serious injury.
Capper finally brought the car to a halt on St. Margaret’s Avenue, Raheny, Garda Martin Grundy told prosecuting counsel Rebecca Smith BL at a sentence hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Capper ran from the car while throwing small bags of white powder away from him. Gardai caught up with him on the nearby Kilbarrack Road, where he ran onto the property of a house there.
Gda Grundy agreed with Oisin Clarke BL, defending, that “he was covered in cocaine” when they found him.
The estimated street value of the cocaine found in his possession on the night was €5,700. Capper told gardai that he intended it for his own use, and the garda witness accepted that Capper has a significant drug habit.
Capper of Cappagh Green, Finglas, Dublin pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in the Sutton area on January 3, 2025 and to possession of drugs for sale or supply on the Kilbarrack rd., Kilbarrack on the same date. His 29 previous convictions include public order and road traffic offences.
The court heard that Capper was unfit for interview after his arrest, but he was cooperative later, “once he sobered up”.
Mr Clarke put it to the garda witness that Capper was not trying to endanger the lives of anyone on the night but was trying to escape arrest. Gda Grundy agreed.
Counsel said that Capper was in a daily spiral of heavy drug cocaine use at the time, and his family had serious concerns about him.
Mr Clarke said that as a teenager, his client had tried out for English football clubs, but an injury put paid to this potential sporting career. He said Capper then turned to drugs and alcohol, and his life went down a “very different path”.
He said his client intends to reform and has a history of employment.
Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Capper to 27 months imprisonment to date from January 4th, when Capper went into custody. He banned Capper from driving for four years.