Gardaí feared an escaped prisoner was going to launch a violent attack when they pounced on the thug, the Irish Mirror can reveal.
Suspected gangland killer John Mangan, 54, was caged for an extra 15 months on Tuesday after he led detectives on a high-speed chase through Dublin.
He fled from Loughan House open prison in October last year while serving a lengthy drugs and firearms sentence.
Read More : Dublin gangster 'lucky to be alive' after suffering submachine gun shooting
On November 9, gardai were alerted to a sighting of Mangan riding a motorbike around Park West Industrial Estate in West Dublin.
After the gangster ignored an order to stop, a high-speed pursuit followed which only ended with air support and a roadblock on Carpenterstown Road, Castleknock.
At his sentencing at Dublin Circuit Court, Garda Gary Farrell said Mangan drove through a number of red lights, overtook and undertook vehicles into oncoming traffic and drove around a roundabout the wrong way.
The witness also said he drove onto a footpath narrowly missing a pedestrian and careered into traffic narrowly missing a number of vehicles. Mangan, of Larkhill Road, Whitehall, admitted endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance.
Defence counsel Kieran Kelly claimed it was during lockdown and his client was anxious to visit his partner who had been diagnosed with cancer.
He said his client, who has five grandchildren, is now clean of drink and drugs. Mr Kelly described him as a reformed man who is currently serving his time in Portlaoise Prison.
Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 15 months which he said must be served consecutively to his current term. He further disqualified Mangan from driving for two years.
A source said: “There was a theory that he was about to carry out an attack but it couldn’t be established. He has a history of crime and is associated with gangland criminals.
“So a huge operation was put in place by gardai to get him. And the way it went, it was incredibly lucky that no one was seriously injured in the incident.”
In 2012, journalist Paul Williams told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court Mangan and Willie Hynes murdered drugs boss Martin “Marlo” Hyland and innocent plumber Anthony Campbell in December 2006.
That year, the pair –both key figures in Hyland’s gang – were caught with €2million of cannabis. Mangan had been snared with a €300,000 cannabis haul a few months previously. That bust led to mayhem and Hyland’s death after mobsters suspected he was an informer.
Mangan was allegedly linked to the murder but never charged. He was handed a 14-year jail term in 2008 after he was caught with a loaded handgun in a pub. At the time, he was on bail for possession of the cannabis haul two years previously.
He admitted having the drug for sale or supply on February 4, 2006 in Drumcondra and possession of a firearm in the Comet Pub, Santry in August 2007.
READ NEXT :
Aussie TV builder to make RTE debut tonight as Build Your Own House hits screens
Met Eireann forecast possible thunderstorms as gale force winds to batter coasts
Maura Higgins breaks silence on Joey Essex kiss as she shares video licking pal
Hutch trial shown footage allegedly of Monk with Jonathan Dowdall after Regency
Mountjoy inmates could play prison guards in Gaelic football match at big venue
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
