Pro-Palestine activists had to be removed by hoist from Collins Aerospace in Cork, court hears
Olivia Kelleher
Two pro-Palestinian activists who had to be removed by hoist from the Collins Aerospace building in Cork city appeared before Cork District Court on Tuesday, having been charged with trespassing to cause criminal damage.
Myles Murphy of Ravenswood Mews in Carrigaline, Co Cork, and Kellie McConnell of Toner House, Sidmonton Place, Bray, Co Wicklow, were charged with an offence of burglary at Collins Aerospace in Penrose Wharf in Cork city on Monday.
The particulars of the charge state that having entered a building as a trespasser, the two co-accused committed an arrestable offence, to wit, criminal damage therein, contrary to the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2021.
Det Garda Martin McSweeney said that the two accused broke into the Collins Aerospace building on Penrose Wharf in the city in the early hours of Monday morning.
Dt Garda Sweeney said that windows were broken and slogans were spray-painted. He stated that “thousands of euro” worth of damage was caused.
“It is alleged that the accused entered the third floor of the building using a ladder and caused extensive damage to the property. Monitors and windows were smashed. Various slogans were painted on numerous walls.”
Garda negotiators were called in to “de-escalate the situation”, with Dt Garda McSweeney stating that Ms McConnell, 27, and Mr Murphy, 30, had to be removed from the building with a hoist by members of the fire brigade.
Garda negotiators also had to convince them to remove themselves from the ledge of the building.
Evidence of arrest, charge and caution for Kellie McConnell was given by Det Garda McSweeney.
He told Judge Mary Dorgan that Ms McConnell was arrested at 11.50pm on Monday at her address in Bray. She was taken to a garda station in Cork city and subsequently charged in connection with the incident.
Det Garda McSweeney said that Ms McConnell made no reply when the charge was put to her after caution.
Sgt Aishling Murphy said that there was no objection to bail in the case once bail conditions were adhered to by the accused. Ms McConnell has to obey certain bail conditions, including paying her own bond of €500.
She also has to sign in at Bray Garda Station on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9am and 9pm.
She has to be contactable to gardaí by mobile phone on a 24/7 basis and cannot have any contact, indirect or direct, with any employee of Collins Aerospace. She also cannot go near the environment of Penrose Wharf.
Ms McConnell was also directed not to make any commentary whatsoever on the case on social media.
Ms McConnell works in Wicklow town. She has to stay out of Cork city save for legal appointments or court appearances.
Meanwhile, evidence of arrest, charge and caution in the case of Mr Murphy was handed in to the court by certificate. The court heard that he replied “I am not guilty” when the charge was put to him under caution.
He has to obey the same conditions as his co-accused. Free legal aid was assigned to him as he is on job seeker's allowance.
Both accused were remanded on bail to appear before Cork District Court on December 2nd next for DPP directions.
It is understood that Collins Aerospace is a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, formerly Raytheon Technologies, one of the world’s largest aerospace and defence companies.
RTX has supplied equipment and technologies to Israel.
