Men accused of causing damage with cherry picker in Cork City further remanded in custody

Court heard previously the Mary Elmes Bridge in Cork City was damaged, with a portion of it crashing into the River Lee when the cherry-picker  was driven on to the pedestrian bridge, causing some of the bridge floor to crash into the River Lee. Picture: Larry Cummins

Two men on charges arising out of a case involving widely shared videos of drunken men jumping around in the cage of a cherry picker being driven through Cork city centre last month, were further remanded in custody.

The two men, who face different charges arising out of the case, appeared at Cork District Court on Tuesday by video link from prison.

Judge Mary Dorgan remanded Kyle Boyle in custody for a fortnight on the application of Sergeant Gearóid Davis to allow time for DPP directions.

Solicitor Eddie Burke for Kyle Boyle said in relation to the absence of DPP directions: “It is a relatively straightforward matter.” 

Sgt Davis replied: “They all look straightforward until you start doing the file.” 

Garda Paul McCarthy previously testified the Mary Elmes Bridge in Cork City was damaged, with a portion of it crashing into the River Lee when the cherry-picker — or mechanical scissor lift — was driven on to the pedestrian bridge, causing some of the bridge floor to crash into the River Lee.

“Pedestrians were left at risk of falling directly into the river as a result of this damage, and it had to sealed off for public safety.” 

31-year-old Kyle Boyle is accused of causing this criminal damage, as well as damaging a metal bollard on Oliver Plunkett Street, and five counts of dangerous driving of this mechanical vehicle around the city. 

Patrick Costin, 18, was charged with two counts arising out of the matter. 

Garda McCarthy said of this defendant: “He was a willing and exuberant participant in this.” 

Patrick Costin was charged with allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle, namely the cherry picker, and causing damage to the bollard on Oliver Plunkett Street. 

He was represented by solicitor Killian McCarthy, who also said,: “It is a relatively straightforward matter.” 

Mr Costin was remanded in custody, with consent to High Court bail, which has not yet been taken up, until January 6. The address for each defendant was given as Cork Simon Community.

Garda McCarthy said at 8.20pm on Sunday, November 2, gardaí responded to a report of a theft of a scissor-lift that was about to be collected and removed from St Patrick’s Quay. He said keys were not in the ignition in one of the compartments of the cage, so it could be collected.

“It is alleged that on the quay and on roads and pedestrian footpaths along the centre of Cork City, there was dangerous driving. This incident occurred at a time when both road and pedestrian traffic in the city centre was busy, and the incident was captured on mobile phone cameras and shared on social media by multiple witnesses at different parts of the route. 

The scissor lift was brought to a stop by gardaí on South Gate Bridge, where arrests were made.”