Two Cork men remanded in custody on multiple charges

Two men facing various different charges arising out of a member of An Garda Síochána being allegedly assaulted, a garda vehicle rammed, a Deliveroo worker rammed off his moped and seriously injured and a stolen car burnt out, were both remanded in custody until March 20.

On the application of Sergeant John Dineen at Cork District Court, Judge Mary Dorgan remanded the two men in custody until that date to allow time for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Adrian Long, aged 26, of 14 Willowbank, Upper Fair Hill, Cork, and Evan Crean, aged 22, of 69 St Colmcille Rd, Gurranabraher, Cork, appeared in court by video link from prison.

Mr Long faces charges of causing criminal damage, theft, attempted theft, driving a stolen car, and assault causing harm to a member of An Garda Síochána.

Mr Crean faces the same charges with one exception — he is not charged with assaulting the officer.

Detective Garda Mark Durcan said it was alleged that a jeep-type vehicle was stolen on October 21, 2024, at Courtbrack, Blarney, and that on October 31, Adrian Long and Evan Crean went on a rampage in it.

Det Gda Durcan said Mr Long stole items from a vehicle in Whitethorn Avenue in Ballincollig after the window of the vehicle had been removed.

Bank cards stolen from Woodbine in Ballincollig were later used in Hollyhill. Binoculars were also stolen.

After 6am, a car parked at Ballyhooley Rd was smashed in an attempt to get into it.

By 10am, two men entered Tesco in Mallow to buy a bottle of Southern Comfort, and because it was too early to sell alcohol they threw €50 on the counter and left with it.

There was a break-in to a car at Woodville, Glanmire, at around 10.45pm.

Ten minutes later in Little Island, an off-duty member of An Garda Síochána observed two men trying to open cars. One of them was sitting in a Ford Focus outside a house when the member approached and identified himself as being a garda.

“A struggle ensued, and he received a number of blows to the body and face from Mr Long,” Det Gda Durcan said.

“He was unable to attend work for a number of days due to his injuries.

“A Deliveroo driver was knocked off his moped in Blackrock and received serious leg injuries.

“Later, on the northside of Cork city, the jeep took off at speed when gardaí indicated for it to stop.

“The vehicle rammed the garda car on two occasions in the Mallow Rd area of Cork.

“The garda car was too damaged to continue before the stolen car was driven to Carrignavar, where it was later found burned out.

“The loss to the owner was around €15,000.”

Detective Garda Pat Barry gave similar evidence in respect of Evan Crean.

He described the Deliveroo driver collision as a ramming.

So far, no specific charges have been brought in relation to that incident, although it was described during the objection to bail for both defendants.

Both detectives said that, by their own admission, both defendants admitted being addicted to drugs.

Sergeant Dineen said the file in the case had been completed and sent to the detective inspector ahead of being sent to the DPP.