Suspect drove at 120km/hr speed through M7 road works as Gardai chased

It has emerged that yesterday's early morning high-speed chase through Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare involved a speed of 120km per hour through the M7 roadworks.

At another stage of the pursuit, the suspect was driving at 180kph. Up to 16 Garda cars were involved in the 40-minute chase.

The vehicle involved was a SsangYong Kyron 4X4.

Armed officers from the Regional Support Unit (RSU) and the national anti-burglary unit were involved, the Irish Independent reports.

The incident began at around 2.15am on Tuesday morning when officers were called to the scene of a criminal damage incident at Killinarden Heights, Tallaght.

It is understood the suspect is a local man who allegedly smashed windows and damaged a pillar at the property which is occupied by people known to him.

When local gardai arrived at the scene, he fled in his 4x4 vehicle and the chase began.

After driving away from Tallaght, the man briefly drove at high speed on the N81 towards Blessington, Co Wicklow.

He then changed direction and drove towards Naas and joined the N7 and on to the M7.

On the stretch of major roadworks where the speed limit is reduced to 60kph, the suspect drove at well over double the speed limit.

The chase continued into Co Laois, where the suspect rammed an armed Garda vehicle in Emo at around 3am.

The suspect was arrested and brought to Tallaght Garda Station for questioning.

Apart from specialist garda units, officers from divisions in Dublin, Laois and Kildare were all involved in the operation.

Nobody was injured during the high-speed chase.