Young Corkman charged with ramming three garda cars and setting fire to stolen car

The accused was also charged with driving at and colliding with a garda car as a garda was getting out of the vehicle

The man was charged that on March 3 at Thomas Davis Street, Blackpool, he caused criminal damage to three garda cars and a parked car belonging to a motorist. File picture: Larry Cummins

The investigation into three garda cars being rammed at Thomas Davis Street in Cork on Sunday, March 3, saw a 26-year-old man being arrested, charged and brought before Cork District Court on Tuesday.

Multiple charges against Stephen Coughlan of 67 Maulbaun, Passage West, Cork, were before the court today and Judge Mary Dorgan remanded him in custody until March 12, on the application of Sergeant Gearóid Davis. Eddie Burke, solicitor, said there was no application for bail. 

A long list of charges were brought against Stephen Coughlan by Detective Garda Michelle O’Leary and Detective Garda Clodagh Walsh.

He was charged that on March 3 at Thomas Davis Street, Blackpool, he caused criminal damage to three garda cars and a parked car belonging to a motorist.

He was charged with stealing a Toyota Hilux at Kilnaglory, Ballincollig, on that date and causing criminal damage by fire to it at Upper Fairhill later on the same date.

Other charges relate to March 1, 2024, at The Raj Indian restaurant car park at Kerrypike, the most serious of which was one of endangerment by causing a substantial risk of death or serious injury to another person. The charge states that he drove at and collided with a garda car as Garda Brian White was exiting the vehicle attempting to carry out his duty, causing him to take evasive action, and forcing the car sideways and driving over the front wing of it to escape.

He faces a related charge of causing criminal damage to the front bumper, bonnet and wing panels of a garda car — a 2018-registered Hyundai i40. He is charged with damaging the stolen car — a Toyota Landcruiser — at The Raj Indian on March 1, dangerous driving there and having no insurance or licence.

He faces multiple other charges from alleged incidents in the past month, including theft of a car at Scartglen, Castleisland, County Kerry, burglary at Manning’s supermarket, Glanmire, County Cork, stealing cars at Maryborough Hill, Douglas, Coolroe Meadows, Ballincollig, Laurel Hill, Monkstown, The Finisk, Rivervalley, Mallow, The Funschion, Rivervalley, Mallow, Monee, Mourneabbey, Mallow, Castlewood, Little Island, and stealing a trailer/horsebox at Park Farm, Passage West.

No outline was given in court as to the background incidents giving rise to all of these charges.

Second accused

A second man was also before Cork District Court. Detective Sergeant Kieran O’Sullivan arrested 32-year-old Brian Keane, of no fixed address and charged him with five burglaries at Aghadoe, Killarney, County Kerry, on February 4.

He was charged with driving a stolen car at Sluggers Cross, Whitechurch, on March 3, dangerous driving there and again at Rathpeacon.

Mr Keane was charged with driving a stolen car at Thomas Davis Street, having stolen property at that location including €1,900 worth of cigarettes and tobacco, on March 3.

Finally, he was charged with travelling as a passenger in a stolen car on March 1 at The Raj restaurant car park and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car at Tower on March 1.

Mr Burke, solicitor, also represented Mr Keane and again there was no application for bail and he was remanded in custody until March 12 for directions to be obtained from the Director of Public Prosecutions.