Man avoids criminal conviction after being found protesting late-night work in 8ft deep manhole

AN IRATE man found sitting in an 8ft-deep manhole entangled in a compressor hose to protest late-night “kango hammering” near his Cork home has avoided a criminal conviction.

Brian Gould had entangled himself in the compressor hose being used by workers at a site on the northside of Cork city on the night of June 27, Cork District Court heard.

Mr Gould said he had not been warned in advance that noisy, late-night work would be carried out near his home.

He was found by gardaí in the manhole preventing further work from continuing at 11.45pm on the site at Cathedral Rd, Gurranbraher, having entangled himself in the compressor hose which was being used by workers.

“At 11.30pm, they had not stopped kango hammering,” Mr Gould said.

“I got upset because there was no one to inform me they were doing that work at that hour of the night. I live in a terrace off Cathedral Road.

“I tried to engage with a supervisor. They thought it was hilarious that someone like me should get upset at someone using jackhammers and con saws at that hour of the night.”

Judge Joanne Carroll noted the workers would probably say they were carrying out essential work.

“They may say that they did notify people,” said Judge Carroll. “I don’t know what they’d say. But sitting in the manhole is a little extreme.”

Mr Gould said: “I asked for a supervisor but they took it as a joke. If I’d known [in advance that] work was going on, I wouldn’t have taken the action I took.”

Mr Gould told gardaí he was dissatisfied with the works, the court heard.

Gardaí “formed the opinion that Mr Gould was intoxicated”, and he was arrested and taken to Gurranabraher Garda Station.

He was charged with a Section 4 Public Order offence.

But Mr Gould, age 72, of 14 Barrys Place, was told by Judge Carroll that he could avoid a conviction.

“I’m going to apply the Probation Act,” said Judge Carroll. “There will be no record of a conviction as a result.”

Mr Gould thanked the judge.