Man ‘caused £20k damage by hurling objects from top of Belfast crane’

Michael Scott, 34, is also accused of throwing a fire extinguisher at a police officer’s head after negotiators were deployed to the city centre construction site.

Scott, of Forthriver Drive in Belfast, is charged with criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon over the incident in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

He also faces three counts of assault on police and common assault.

Opposing his application for bail at the city’s 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 of the machine.

“He remained on it for a number of hours, throwing items to the street below,” the constable said.

“A considerable amount of damage was caused to the crane, with the initial estimate of around £20,000.”

Police negotiators persuaded Scott to come down, but he allegedly ran off on reaching the bottom.

Defence barrister Turlough Madden acknowledged his client’s “difficulties”, but argued that he still has family support.

Refusing bail, District Judge George Conner said: “I’m afraid there is too high a risk of further offences being committed.”

He remanded Scott in custody.