Carlow man who rammed brother’s Audi and assaulted gardaí jailed for four years
The Wicklow PeopleA Carlow man who carried out what a judge described as a “continuous rampage”, involving assaults on gardaí, dangerous driving and endangerment has been jailed for four years.
Jonathan Teevan (29), of Knocknaboley, Hacketstown, Co Carlow, appeared at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing, after pleading guilty to damaging the rear windscreen of an Audi A5, assault causing harm to two gardaí, damaging a car and a wooden shop front, endangerment after driving in a manner that caused a member of the public to take evasive action to avoid being struck, and dangerous driving.
Detective Garda Laura Kavanagh of Baltinglass Garda Station gave evidence that on April 30, 2025, Mr Teevan damaged the rear windscreen of his brother’s Audi A5 with a steel bar during an altercation between the pair.
During the incident, Mr Teevan punched his brother in the face and made a number of threats, including that he “would burn his house out”. It was noted that the altercation lasted 10 to 15 minutes.
Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly, stated that on May 15, gardaí received a call from Mr Teevan’s brother, who was at Tinahely Garda Station, after Mr Teevan pursued him while he was dropping a friend somewhere.
The court was told that the defendant followed his brother in another vehicle and rammed his car off the road, which caused significant damage to his brother’s vehicle.
During the incident, Mr Teevan also jumped on the bonnet of the car, telling his brother: “You are dead.”
Det Gda Kavanagh noted that his brother was forced to “take sanctuary at the garda station” and that the vehicle used by Mr Teevan was stolen.
She added that gardaí approached Mr Teevan after the ramming incident, “but he took off running, and we followed him for an hour”.
The court was told that gardaí began searching for Mr Teevan with the assistance of a helicopter. A man left his Toyota Hilux unattended with the keys inside, which Mr Teevan allegedly stole.
Mr Teevan then returned to his family home, where he allegedly attempted to run over two gardaí with the stolen Hilux before reversing into a garda car. The court heard he continued to become involved in numerous “dangerous driving incidents” before gardaí pursued him down a country road.
The court heard that Mr Teevan looked back and reversed at speed into Det Gda Kavanagh and a colleague, forcing them to manoeuvre into a ditch, “with them lucky to make it out alive”.
Det Gda Kavanagh said units from Gorey, Blessington and armed response units were called to assist, with gardaí finding the defendant at the rear of his family home holding a bar. Gardaí then attempted to restrain Mr Teevan, with one officer suffering two dislocated fingers and another sustaining a dislocated ankle during the “violent assault”.
During a search of the accused’s person, a small amount of amphetamine and cannabis was allegedly found.
Mr Kelly stated that Mr Teevan was brought before a special sitting at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, where he was released on bail.
On June 7, Mr Teevan stole his “on and off again girlfriend’s car” and was later spotted in Hacketstown, with an armed response being called in.
Mr Teevan was later observed in Carnew, where he became involved in dangerous driving incidents, including mounting a footpath and damaging a car and a wooden shop front at the Orient Plaza takeaway on Main Street. While mounting the footpath, he caused a member of the public to take evasive action to avoid being struck.
Det Kavanagh noted that the member of the public was lucky “not to be dead”.
The court was told the defendant has three previous convictions. Det Gda Kavanagh informed the court that Mr Teevan has “battled with drug addiction”, with his family having to reach out to local gardaí previously.
During interview, Mr Teevan’s only response when asked why he committed his offences was: “Because I’m a junkie.”
In a victim impact statement read to the court by Mr Kelly, Mr Teevan’s brother said driving now causes him stress and brings him “back to the night” of the incident.
He outlined ongoing issues obtaining insurance following the collision and said he now requires third-party insurance cover.
A victim impact statement on behalf of the gardaí was also read to the court.
Following the statement, Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin asked why no victim impact statement had been provided in relation to Det Gda Kavanagh.
Det Gda Kavanagh told the court that one of the injured gardaí remains on sick leave and is awaiting further surgery.
She also said she believed the Toyota Hilux was “going to crush her” during the incident, before praising the actions of her fellow garda in getting out of the way.
During cross-examination, senior counsel for the accused, Colman FitzGerald, instructed by Pauric Hyland Solicitors, remarked that Mr Teevan put many members of the gardaí and public in danger, as well as his own life.
In mitigation, Mr FitzGerald said that his client had significant cocaine issues, but had worked in a number of jobs “which are manual in nature”.
The court also heard he has three children, who he now only sees over video link from custody as he does not want them entering a prison.
The court was told that Mr Teevan’s mother believes it has been a test for the family, but does not want to lessen her son’s behaviour.
Mr Teevan has been sober since entering custody, with a governor’s report being requested on January 14 by junior counsel Gregory Murphy. It was noted that the report was not before the court.
In her judgment, Judge Ní Chúlacháin said the court was dealing with a “variety of offences” and that she was required to apply the principle of totality when sentencing Mr Teevan.
The judge imposed a two-year prison sentence for criminal damage arising from the incident on April 30, 2025.
For offences committed on May 16, including assault causing harm to Garda Charlie Timmins and Garda Christian Dorneanu, Judge Ní Chúlacháin imposed concurrent four-year prison sentences.
Addressing the incidents of June 7, the judge described the events as “shocking, it’s so shocking”, adding that Mr Teevan was “so lucky you didn’t kill a lot of gardaí”.
The court heard the incidents formed “one long continuous rampage”. Judge Ní Chúlacháin imposed three-year sentences for the June 7 offences, including endangerment and criminal damage.
Those sentences were ordered to run concurrently with each other and consecutively to the assault causing harm sentence, but were suspended in full for five years.
The four-year sentence for assault causing harm to the garda was the effective custodial sentence, with the remaining prison terms running concurrently.
Judge Ní Chúlacháin also disqualified Mr Teevan from driving for 10 years and directed that all custodial sentences be backdated to June 9, 2025.