Man admits driving cherry picker through Cork City and causing criminal damage

Court heard pedestrians were in danger of falling into the River Lee after cherry picker was driven onto Mary Elmes Bridge, causing a section to fall into the river

Garda Paul McCarthy previously testified the Mary Elmes Bridge in Cork city was damaged with 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

A 31-year-old Donegal man signed guilty pleas to all the charges against him arising of the crashing and driving of a cherry picker through Cork city centre that was widely shared on social media last year.

31-year-old Kyle Boyle, of Cork Simon Community, appeared at Cork District Court where he signed pleas of guilty to the unauthorised taking of the cherry-picker and two counts of causing criminal damage, including a count related to crashing at Mary Elmes Bridge.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, confirmed at Cork District Court the signed guilty pleas were being entered. On the application of Sergeant Gearóid Davis, Judge David Waters sent the case forward to the sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court commencing on October 27.

Garda Paul McCarthy previously testified the Mary Elmes Bridge in Cork city was damaged with 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,” Garda McCarthy said.

Further damage was caused to a metal bollard on Oliver Plunkett Street.

Garda McCarthy said previously that at 8.20pm on Sunday, November 2, 2005, 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 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,” Garda McCarthy said.