Manhunt in Cork after delivery driver's motorbike rammed by stolen car

Motorcyclist hospitalised after his bike was rammed in Beaumont by a car that later rammed a garda car on the northside of Cork City

The Skoda Kodiaq car that rammed a delivery driver and a garda car was reported stolen from a property near Blarney 10 days ago. Stock picture: Dan Linehan

A manhunt is underway after a delivery driver was left with serious leg fractures after being rammed by a stolen car in Cork city.

The car also rammed a garda car two hours later on the northside of Cork city.

Gardaí are working to establish a motive for the incident on Woodvale Road in Beaumont which is understood to have occurred after the delivery driver’s motorcycle was followed from Mahon by the stolen vehicle. The car, a Skoda Kodiaq, was reported stolen from a property near Blarney 10 days ago.

The 23-year-old Brazilian motorcyclist sustained serious leg injuries in the ramming incident but gardaí said that his injuries were not life threatening. One line of investigation is that he was pursued after an exchange of words in Mahon.

The man was followed after he dropped a delivery in Mahon at around midnight. The car pursued him as far as Woodvale Road where he was rammed. It is understood a number of men were in the car and they fled the scene immediately after the collision. 

At around 2am, the car also rammed a garda car on Old Mallow Road before again fleeing. Two gardaí received minor injuries in that incident.

The men remained at large on Friday night.

The victim of the incident was taken to hospital after locals on Woodvale Road contacted the emergency services. Gardai, the National Ambulance Service and Cork City Fire Service personnel attended the scene.

Door to door enquiries have been carried out in the area on Friday morning as gardaí tried to piece together what led to the collision, and why the motorcyclist was targeted. A technical examination of the motorcycle has also been carried out.

A garda spokeswoman said: “Gardaí were alerted to a two vehicle road traffic collision that occurred in the Blackrock area, Cork city, at approximately midnight, Thursday, 31st October, 2024. 

"The collision involved a car and a motorcycle. Following the incident, the motorcycle driver, a man in his 20s, has been conveyed to hospital for treatment of injuries, which are believed to be non-life threatening at this time.” 

She added: “The investigation is ongoing.” 

Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí in Anglesea Street on 021 4522000.