Teenager released on bail after alleged ‘knife fight’ in Cork

A 15-year-old boy with autism was brought before Cork District Court charged with injuring another teenager in “a knife fight” on Oliver Plunkett St in Cork at 6.30pm in the evening.

It was alleged that this teenager had a knife and the other youth had a broken champagne bottle and that they were making slashing movements towards each other’s head and torso.

Detective Garda Joe Crowley arrested the teenager, who cannot be identified as he is a juvenile, and brought him before an in camera hearing of the court on a charge of assault causing harm to an 18-year-old male.

Det Garda Crowley said: 

“I explained to him he was lucky he was not killed or the other person was not killed.”

The detective said there was an objection to bail because of the seriousness of the case.

The detective also said the teenager made certain admissions in respect of the charge of assault causing harm and that he told gardaí he threw the knife in the river after the alleged incident.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke applied for bail and said the teenager was doing well in education and would reside with his mother.

The defendant broke down in tears at one stage during the hearing and was comforted by his mother. His father was also present for the court hearing.

After it emerged that no bed was available in Oberstown Detention Centre in Dublin, Judge Mary Dorgan remanded the 15-year-old on bail with conditions that required him to remain intoxicant-free, have no contact with other parties to the incident, and to abide by a curfew and stay out of Cork city centre.

A co-accused was arrested and appeared before the adult court later in the day at Cork District Court.

As he is 18 years old, Samuel Ekpemoga, of St Patrick’s Terrace, Gerald Griffin St, Cork, can be identified.

He is charged with assault causing harm to another teenager — a friend of the 15-year-old defendant.

Garda Shane Hayes objected to bail being granted to Mr Ekpemoga because of the seriousness of the allegations.

It was alleged that he slashed the head of one young man with half of a broken champagne bottle, causing deep lacerations to his head which required immediate medical treatment.

“The incident was captured in full on high-definition Garda CCTV cameras,” said Gda Hayes.

“The suspect was apprehended close to the scene after an attempt to flee.”

This defendant, represented by solicitor Frank Buttimer, was remanded on similar conditions to appear in court on May 16, to allow time for the garda file to be completed and directions obtained from the Director of Public Prosecutions.