Bail for Cork man charged with damaging US military plane at Shannon Airport

The defendant is also charged with the criminal damage of the perimeter fence at Shannon Airport

Mr Ó Corráin is charged with the criminal damage of Hercules C130 Aircraft 'St Joseph' on April 11, belonging to the Missouri National Air Guard, Dept. of the Airforce, United States of America, contrary to Section 2(1) Criminal Damage Act, 1991. File photo: AP/John Cogill

A Cork man charged with causing criminal damage to a US military plane at Shannon Airport last month has secured High Court bail, a court has heard.

At Ennis District Court, Sgt John Burke said that since Dáithi Ó Corráin, aged 47, of Blarney Street, Cork City, last appeared in the district court, when he appeared via video-link from prison, he has secured High Court bail.

Mr Ó Corráin first appeared before the district court in connection with the incident at Shannon Airport on April 11 at Limerick District Court on April 13 where he was refused bail and remanded in custody after Garda objections.

Sgt Burke told Judge Adrian Harris that he would be seeking a long adjournment in the case “as it is a complex investigation and arises from the alleged criminal damage of a US military plane at Shannon Airport".

In the case, Mr Ó Corráin is charged with the criminal damage of Hercules C130 Aircraft 'St Joseph' on April 11, belonging to the Missouri National Air Guard, Dept. of the Airforce, United States of America, contrary to Section 2(1) Criminal Damage Act, 1991.

Mr Ó Corráin is also charged with the criminal damage of the perimeter fence at Shannon Airport on the same date which is also contrary to Section 2(1) Criminal Damage Act, 1991.

Mr Ó Corráin is facing a third charge from the same date where he is accused of entering Taxiway 11 at Shannon Airport, Shannon, Co Clare, as a trespasser in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that such entry/presence was with intent to commit an offence or to unlawfully interfere with any property situated therein.

Shannon Airport suspended all of its operations for under half an hour on the morning in question, which resulted in slight delays to two departing flights.

Shannon gardai, Shannon Airport police, Shannon Airport Fire and Rescue, as well as Irish Defence Forces personnel who were on duty at the airport at the time, responded to the alleged criminal damage of the US military plane.

Sgt Burke said that as it was a complex investigation he was seeking an adjournment to July 1.

Solicitor for Mr O’Corráin, Stiofán Fitzpatrick, said the application to adjourn the case until July 1 is on consent and Judge Harris further remanded Mr O’Corráin on bail to that date.