Criminal damage charge withdrawn against Cork teenager accused of travelling in stolen cherry picker

The only charge now faced by Patrick Costin is of allowing himself to be carried in the stolen vehicle

Garda Paul McCarthy said that at 8.20pm on Sunday, November 2, 2025, 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. 

A criminal damage charge was withdrawn by the prosecution against a teenager accused of travelling through the streets of Cork in a stolen cherry picker last November.

Sergeant John Kelleher said that in the case against one of those accused of travelling in the stolen cherry picker — Patrick Costin — the DPP had decided that the additional charge of causing criminal damage was being withdrawn against him.

The only charge now faced by Patrick Costin, aged 18, of Cork Simon Community is of allowing himself to be carried in the stolen vehicle.

The alleged escapade was videoed and widely shared on social media.

Garda Paul McCarthy said that at 8.20pm on Sunday, November 2, 2025, 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 but in one of the compartments of the cage so that 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 gardai on South Gate Bridge where arrests were made.” 

Prosecution evidence is to be sent to defence solicitor Killian McCarthy for the case which will be dealt with at Cork District Court. Judge Mary Dorgan remanded the teenager in continuing custody until May 7.