Pearse Road incident 'like something out of gangster movie' as car attacked by masked men

Locals in Ballyphehane on the city’s southside have been left rattled following a car chase across the suburb that resulted in a dramatic crash outside Virgin Media Park on Tuesday evening.

One woman described the incidents as like something out of a “gangster movie”, while others expressed their fears for the area after other incidents in recent months.

Gardaí confirmed that a man in his 20s was brought to Cork University Hospital for treatment of injuries after an alleged assault that occurred shortly after the road collision.

Locals who spoke about the incident declined to use their names for fear of possible criminal reprisal.

One man, 'John', described a scene in which masked men in balaclavas exited a white van on Pearse Road and proceeded to damage an occupied car with bats and iron bars.

“They started hitting this car. Now with that, the car sped up onto a footpath and blew one of these guys up into the air,” John told The Echo.

“He landed on the bonnet. He was hanging on for dear life. The car sped off, braked suddenly, which pulled him off onto the road.” 

John said the wing and door of his own car were damaged by the speeding vehicles, and he can no longer open the front door of his car.

He described the incident as “mindless thuggery” and said that Pearse Road, which normally felt like a safe haven, was becoming more dangerous.

He believes it was likely “drug-related”. Many locals struck a similar sentiment.

Ballyphehane is one of Cork’s oldest suburbs and generally comprises an older, settled population.

One woman said that watching the incident taking place was “like living in a gangster movie” and that “it was surreal.” 

Another man, who has lived almost all of his life on Pearse Road, said the incident felt like a further escalation from a previous petrol bomb attack in the suburb earlier this year.

“Nothing ever happens here. This is just nuts.” 

Another woman, who did not want to reveal her real name, said she has also lived in the area for decades. On Tuesday night, she saw two young men walking down the road, before hearing a series of loud bangs, and then saw a car speeding off.

“Seeing the car speed off, it was like a Formula One car,” she said.

The black Hyundai Tucson – which had been stolen from Cobh and was being driven under false driving plates – crashed into the entrance gate to Virgin Media Park.

Local politicians have since voiced concern over the incident.

“It is shocking to hear of this kind of criminal activity, and by all accounts it is miraculous that pedestrians or children playing were not hit by the cars travelling at high speed,” said Sinn Féin Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

“It is appalling that residents have had cars damaged and witnessed such scenes.” 

Local Green Party councillor Dan Boyle said the incident was “very much out of the blue.” 

“The idea of those kind of cars racing up and down, and people choosing to use it as some kind of a death course, or something like that, is something that is causing a lot of concern in the area,” he said.

An Garda Síochána confirmed that a “road traffic collision” took place in the area at 8.30pm and that enquiries into the incident were "ongoing".

An Garda Síochána did not respond to requests for further information.