Stolen motorbikes burnt out at Cork city park on Christmas Day

Three stolen motorbikes were set alight at the Fairfield on the northside of Cork city on Christmas day, a councillor has said, as he called for the long-awaited enclosure of the park to be fast tracked.

The Fairfield amenity, which is used by local clubs as well as being a scenic walkway with an outdoor gym, has been consistently vandalised, including burning rubbish and tearing down goal posts.

In March, the pitch was badly damaged by young people on scramblers, with the surface torn up by their tracks.

Sinn Féin councillor for the area Kenneth Collins, who lives nearby, told The Echo: “They were three high powered bikes, high value, probably stolen.

Broad daylight

“They were burnt out and dumped in broad daylight at 1pm on Christmas day. The fire service and gardaí had to be called.

“I want to credit the gardaí and the fire service for the way they dealt with it. These people were working on Christmas day to keep people safe, they shouldn’t have to be called out to this stupid behaviour.”

Mr Collins said this showed that the Fairfield needed to be enclosed as soon as possible.

“It’s a fantastic amenity that we have on our doorstep, and it’s awful to have this type of antisocial behaviour happening.

“A lot of people are angry that we have the public lighting, and they did up the walkway area but this is happening. It strengthens the case for Cork City Council to enclose it. It will be happening, but it needs to speed up.”

Vigilant

Mr Collins said that the bikes are due to be removed today. However he warned that the ground could still have oil on it.

“I’d ask people to be careful, and I’d also ask people who own motorbikes to be vigilant, make sure they’re locked and in a secure place, and if they have CCTV to keep an eye on it.”

A garda spokesperson told The Echo: “Gardaí responded to an incident of criminal damage by fire in which a number of motorcycles were damaged, in Farranree, on December 25 at approximately 2pm. Investigation ongoing.”