Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘£20K crane climb cost’
Man denied bail over building site drama
A MAN allegedly climbed to the top of a crane and caused an estimated £20,000 damage by hurling objects to the street below, a court heard.
Michael Scott, 34, is also accused of throwing a fire extinguisher at a police officer’s head after negotiators were deployed to the Belfast construction site.
Scott, of Forthriver Drive in the north of the city, is charged with criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon over the incident in the early hours of Tuesday.
He also faces three counts of assault on police and common assault.
Opposing his application for bail at Belfast Magistrates Court, a PSNI constable said Scott is alleged to have pushed his partner down a flight of steps in Custom House Square. Police then received a report about a man climbing up a tower crane at the Ulster University construction site on Frederick Street.
Officers went to the scene and discovered Scott had allegedly scaled to the top. The constable said: “He remained
BLUEBELLS are in full bloom in woods across the country, creating spectacular swathes of colour.
This year, the spring displays are more vibrant than ever with fewer of these delicate plants being crushed underfoot as people follow guidelines over Covid-19.
Although many of us cannot witness the spectacular displays in person this year, the National Trust is sharing pictures of bluebells from its sites, on it for a number of hours, throwing items to the street below.
“A considerable amount of damage was caused to the crane, with the initial estimate of around £20,000.”
Refusing bail, Judge George Conner said: “I’m afraid there is too high a risk of further offences being committed.”
He remanded Scott in custody to appear again by video-link in four weeks’ time. including images of the rarer white bluebell found in abundance at Derrymore, Bessbrook, Co Armagh.
Ranger Rosemary Mulholland said: “Bluebells usually bloom in late April or early May and can carpet the floor of a wood, filling it with a beautiful, delicate scent and providing much needed nectar for bees, butterflies and other insects.
“Our native bluebell is a lovely dark, violet blue, with a drooping head and flowers that hang down on one side.”