Two men have been remanded in custody after they appeared in court in connection with a high speed chase in Cork yesterday in which a motorcycle garda was seriously injured.
John O'Driscoll (27) and Damian Fitzgerald (25) both appeared at Cork District Court this afternoon where they were each charged with a number of offences arising out of the incident.
Mr O'Driscoll, a native of Fairhill but with an address at the Simon Community, Anderson's Quay in Cork was charged with a total of seven offences by investigating gardaí.
Mr O'Driscoll was charged with taking a van without the permission of the owner at Mac Curtain Street in Cork on Thursday and with theft from the Vienna Woods Hotel in Glanmire in Cork on Friday.
Mr O’Driscoll was also charged with five counts of dangerous driving yesterday.
His co-accused, Mr Fitzgerald from Inniscarra Road, Fairhill, Cork was charged with allowing himself be carried in a stolen vehicle at Lower Killeens, Blarney on Thursday.
Mr Fitzgerald was also charged with a second offence of theft of property from the Function Room Bar at Vienna Woods Hotel in Glanmire in Cork .
Det Garda Robbie Kennedy gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in respect of both accused and told how Mr Fitzgerald replied "I'm sorry" when both charges were put to him after caution.
Det Garda Kennedy told the court that Mr O’Driscoll replied “I’m sorry and I’m sorry for the guard” when the charges were put to him.
Insp Eileen Foster said gardaí were objecting to bail and applied to Judge Olann Kalleher to have both men remanded in custody to appear in court again next week.
Defence solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher said that neither man was making any bail application at this point and he also applied for free legal aid, telling the judge both men were on the dole.
He also asked to have both men - who both had several lacerations and grazes to their faces - both medically and psychiatrically assessed while in custody.
Mr Fitzgerald asked to take the witness box and he told the court that he had been celebrating his birthday on April 16th and had gone on a serious drinking binge over the past few days.
Judge Kelleher noted his comments and remanded both men in custody to appear in court again at on Thursday and he directed they receive appropriate medical and psychiatric attention.
