A man who threatened to blow up gardai with a gas cylinder after they handcuffed him during arrest has been jailed for 10 years.
In another incident, David Dempsey caused almost £19,000 damage to 10 cars when he drove a stolen vehicle against traffic at high speed at Black Glen Road, Sandyford, when attempting to escape from gardai.
Dempsey (32), single, unemployed, of Rutland Grove, Crumlin, pleaded guilty to a series of charges, including handbag snatches, the unlawful taking of a vehicle and firearms offences during May, June and July last year.
Det Sgt Sean Campbell said a number of people were injured in Dempsey's escape as he drove against traffic. A total of £18,607 damage was done to vehicles.
Det Sgt Campbell said gardai arrested Dempsey when he was found in a bedroom of rented accommodation at Reubens Avenue, Fatima Mansions.
A number of armed gardai ran into the room and when they produced their guns a standoff developed.
Dempsey told them: "I have AIDS I am going to die anyway and will take a few gardai with me." He sprayed gardai with blood from a syringe and threatened to infect them. He then ignited a gas cylinder which was connected to a hose and threatened to use it to "blow up the whole house".
No gardai were injured but four have since been on sick leave due to the trauma of the incident. Det Sgt Campbell said Dempsey was a drug addict and when under the influence of drugs he became very violent. He had 32 previous convictions.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne said she would review the 10-year sentence in three years.