Man jailed for three years for ramming garda cars in 'Grand Theft Auto' crime
Olivia Kelleher
A man who deliberately rammed two garda cars while driving a stolen seven-tonne rigid truck and also caused €25,000 in damage to parked cars in a scene which he compared to the video game Grand Theft Auto has been jailed for three years.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court previously heard that Istvan Konyari was without previous convictions until November 2023, when he took part in a three-day “crime spree.”
His offending behaviour only ended when a member of the Armed Support Unit (ASU) fired a single shot through the windscreen of the stolen rigid truck.
Det Garda Peter Quinn said that Mr Konyari put lives at risk as he rammed garda cars in the confined car park of Dwyer’s Electrical in Forge Hill in Cork city on the morning of November 8th, 2023.
Mr Konyari, previously of Shandon Street in Cork, put his hands over his head and got out of the truck when the ASU member fired the shot at the windscreen.
In his garda interview, he compared his antics to the video game Grand Theft Auto. Mr Konyari felt that it was a case of “maximum stars” when a member of the ASU fired the single shot through his windscreen to bring his escapades to a halt.
In addition to pleading guilty to the ramming offences, Mr Konyari also admitted carrying out three burglaries, stealing the truck and previously stealing a van which he used to store the items he had robbed.
Stolen items included an antique clock, coal, gas cylinders and toilet rolls. During the course of one burglary in Cork, an apartment owner went into their kitchen where they found Mr Konyari making coffee and eating crackers.
He also stopped off at a garage forecourt and stole items from a washing machine. These included a nurse’s uniform and children’s clothing. When the owners of the uniform approached him and threatened to report him he returned the items to her.
Defence barrister Alison McCarthy, BL, told Judge Helen Boyle that her client entered custody in 2023 following the incident.
He had led a completely blameless life and worked continuously until 2021 when a large kettlebell fell on his head. Mr Konyari was also seriously injured in an assault in the same year.
The court heard that the Hungarian national suffered mood and personality changes following the two incidents. However, he opted not to get help for his injury and instead self-medicated with illegal drugs.
Judge Boyle said that she was cognisant of the fact that there was “reduced culpability” in the case arising out of the head injury. She said that she was aware that Mr Konyari was likely suffering from post-concussion syndrome at the time of the offence.
He was also under the influence of cocaine and cannabis.
Mr Konyari wrote a letter of apology to gardai and persons impacted by his offending behaviour. He admitted that he regretted not seeking help for his head injury.
Judge Boyle stated that an aggravating factor in the case was the “havoc caused” via multiple thefts including the robbery of two vehicles.
“This is all culminated in a serious incident requiring the Armed Support Unit. You (Konyari) did a lot of damage to cars.”
Factoring in the signed plea in the case, the full cooperation and remorse of the accused, Judge Boyle jailed him for three and a half years, suspending the final six months of the sentence.
She also disqualified Mr Konyari from driving for a period of four years.
Mr Konyari plans to return to his native country following his release from prison as he no longer has family in Ireland. The prison sentence was backdated to when he first entered custody in 2023.
