Ireland Case No. 30014Using an imitation firearm to resist arrest; dangerous driving · Co. Cork · 4 Jul 2020
Man jailed for firing imitation firearm at gardaí on Cork M8
Tommy Mannah, 22, a man from Sierra Leone living in Cork city, fired shots from a pellet pistol at gardaí during a high-speed chase on the M8 Northbound at Ballinahina, Rathcormac, Co Cork on 4 July 2020. He crashed through a toll barrier, was stopped by a stinger device, and was tasered to effect his arrest. He pleaded guilty to using an imitation firearm to resist arrest and to dangerous driving at Cork Circuit Court. In September 2021, Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment with two years suspended and a ten-year driving disqualification.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced20 Sep
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Mannah fired shots from a pellet pistol at gardaí during a high-speed chase, hitting one officer in the arm without injury.
- Mannah crashed through a barrier at the M8 toll plaza and was stopped by a stinger device that punctured and disabled his car.
- ASU members identified themselves as armed gardaí and Mannah continued to fire; ASU returned fire before Mannah was tasered and arrested.
- Where
- The incident occurred on the M8 Northbound at Ballinahina, Rathcormac, Co Cork.
- When
- Gardaí received a call at 11.30pm on 3 July 2020 about a man breaking into a car on the north side of Cork city in possession of a firearm; the offence occurred on 4 July 2020.
- Charges
- Mannah pleaded guilty to using an imitation firearm for the purpose of resisting arrest and to dangerous driving at Old Youghal Road in Cork.
- In court
- The case was heard at Cork Circuit Court before Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin.
- Sentence
- Mannah was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with two years suspended and disqualified from driving for ten years.
- Other details
- Mannah was under the influence of cannabis, pain medication, and alcohol at the time of the offence.
- Mannah is a native of Sierra Leone who moved to Ireland at age three and suffered from significant mental health difficulties.
- Investigation
- Gardaí maintained sight of Mannah from Military Road to the N8 motorway and the incident was captured on CCTV.
35 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMannah discharged an alleged handgun in the direction of gardai, hitting one member in the arm. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatMannah was signalled to stop, failed to do so, and discharged shots out the window of the car. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatMannah crashed through a barrier at the toll plaza on the M8. (corkbeo.ie, rte.ie)
- whatA stinger device was used to puncture and disable his car. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatArmed Support Unit members identified themselves as armed gardai and Mannah discharged shots at them. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatA taser was discharged and Mannah was successfully arrested. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatGardaí never lost sight of Mannah from Military Hill to the N8 motorway. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe firearm turned out to be a pellet pistol. (corkbeo.ie, rte.ie)
- whatThe uniformed officer who was shot was not hurt. (corkbeo.ie, rte.ie)
- whatTommy Mannah is 22 years old and lives at Mount Vernon View in Cork city (rte.ie)
- whatOfficers used a stinger device to puncture and disable his car (rte.ie)
- whatGardaí received a call at 11.30pm on 3 July 2020 about a man breaking into a car on the north side of Cork city in possession of a firearm (rte.ie)
- whatASU members identified themselves as gardaí to Mannah as he got out of his vehicle and he continued to fire at them (rte.ie)
- whatASU officers returned fire before Mannah was tasered and arrested (rte.ie)
- whatMannah was under the influence of cannabis, pain medication and alcohol at the time of the offence (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred on the M8 Northbound at Ballinahina, Rathcormac, Co Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe incident took place on the M8 Northbound at Ballinahina, Rathcormac, Co Cork (rte.ie)
- whenGardaí received a call at 11.30pm on July 3, 2020 about a man breaking into a car on the north side of Cork city. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe offence occurred on 4 July 2020 (rte.ie)
- investigationMannah was in sight of gardaí at all times from Military Road until his arrest and was captured on CCTV (rte.ie)
- chargeMannah pleaded guilty to using an imitation firearm for the purpose of resisting arrest. (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeMannah pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Old Youghal Road in Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to using an imitation firearm for the purpose of resisting arrest (rte.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Old Youghal Road in Cork on the same date (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Cork Circuit Court before Judge Sean O'Donnabhain. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtHe appeared before Cork Circuit Court (rte.ie)
- sentenceMannah was disqualified from driving for ten years. (corkbeo.ie, rte.ie)
- sentenceMannah was jailed for eight years with the last two years suspended. (corkbeo.ie, rte.ie)
- otherMannah was under the influence of cannabis, back pain medication and alcohol at the time. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherMannah is a native of Sierra Leone who moved to Ireland when he was three. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe Probation Report indicated Mannah still feels victimised by gardai and has not taken responsibility. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherMannah suffered from significant mental health difficulties. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe judge said the lack of insight shown by Mannah was alarming (rte.ie)
- otherThe Probation Report indicated Mannah still feels victimised by gardaí and has not taken responsibility (rte.ie)
- otherDefence counsel said Mannah came from a difficult background, moved out of home as a teenager, dropped out of university, and suffered from significant mental health difficulties (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Sep2021Man jailed for firing imitation handgun at gardaí
Provides full sentencing details including the judge's comments, probation report findings, defence submissions about mental health and background, and specific incident details such as the ASU return fire, taser arrest, stinger device, and the fact the firearm was a pellet pistol.
convicted, Tommy Mannah, 22, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Tommy Mannahvictim - 20 Sep2021Cork man who fired at Gardai during crazy high-speed motorway chase jailed
Sentencing report: eight years with two suspended, ten-year driving disqualification, guilty plea, background details including Sierra Leone origin, mental health difficulties, and the full sequence of the chase and arrest.
convicted, Tommy Mannah, 22, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Tommy Mannahvictim