Laser was allegedly shone at rescue helicopter searching for missing person in Cork

A laser was shone from the balcony of an apartment into the cockpit of a helicopter that was searching the River Lee for a missing person. The helicopter had to stand down twice.

These were the allegations made today in the case against a man, aged around 40, at Cork District Court.

Judge Mary Dorgan said the case was too serious to be dealt with at the district court. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had indicated that it could be dealt with at that court level, but Judge Dorgan refused to accept jurisdiction.

“It is far too serious,” Judge Dorgan said. 

“The fact that a helicopter was looking for a missing person, and I must also take in to consideration that it happened twice and that it is alleged that the helicopter had to be stood down — apart altogether from the safety of the helicopter.”

Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the allegations against Daniel Kazirodek, of an apartment at 29/30, Lower John St, Cork.

Sgt Kelleher said that after midnight on October 18, 2023, a missing-person search was being conducted in the River Lee.

“During this search, a request was made of the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 to assist in the search from Waterford.

“At approximately 00.15, the crew of 117 reported a green laser being pointed into the cockpit of the helicopter and the search operations had to be suspended.

“At approximately 1.55am, the crew in Rescue 117 reported a second laser strike in the helicopter.

“The camera operative had observed a male standing on a balcony shining the laser at the aircraft. Search operations were again suspended and gardaí were guided to the location of the laser.

“With the assistance of the Irish Coast Guard, the address of a second-floor apartment with a balcony at 29/30 Lower John St was identified. Gardaí were invited into the address by Mr Kazirodek, who was highly intoxicated.

“A search warrant was subsequently obtained for his apartment and it was subsequently searched. He handed Sergeant Colin Dowling a box containing a number of different attachments for a laser. He said he discarded the actual laser by throwing it into a nearby factory.”

Joseph Cuddigan, solicitor, represented the accused man.

Now that the case is to proceed by indictment, the DPP will have to give further directions and the case was adjourned until November 24.

The charge, under the State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014, states that on October 17, 2023, at Lower John St, Cork, the accused man did deliberately and recklessly shine a laser in the direction of an Irish Coast Guard aircraft, so that the light may dazzle, distract, or confuse the pilot or person in the performance of their duties.