Gardaí object to bail for man after violent disorder incident in Cork

GARDAÍ objected to bail being granted to a man who allegedly kicked and stamped on another man during a violent altercation at the bus station in Cork city.

Ryan Kennefick, of St Vincent’s Hostel, Anglesea Terrace, Cork, was arrested and charged with engaging with others in a violent disorder at the premises on Parnell Place, Cork, on September 3, 2023.

At Cork District Court, Garda Deirdre Callanan objected to bail being granted to the 21-year-old based on grounds including the seriousness of the alleged incident and concerns that he would not appear in court if given bail.

Garda Callanan said she arrived at the bus station to see a man lying on the ground and he had blood coming from his nose and a cut above his right eye. On viewing CCTV from Bus Éireann of the incident that occurred shortly before 10pm that night, there was a violent altercation between three men in the waiting area of the bus station.

From the CCTV footage, it was alleged one of the men involved in the altercation was Ryan Kennefick.

Defence solicitor Daithí Ó Donnabháin applied for bail and Judge Mary Dorgan acceded to this application after hearing the evidence.

Bail conditions until the next court appearance on July 1 require him to abstain from intoxicants, keep a 10pm to 7am curfew, and be contactable by mobile phone by An Garda Síochána. A book of evidence will have to be prepared in the case.

A co-accused was remanded in custody yesterday until June 5 for his alleged part in the violent disorder.

Karl Cleary, aged 23, who lives at Cork Simon Community, was originally charged with assault causing harm to another man and engaging in threatening behaviour at the bus station on Parnell Place, on September 3 last.

Now both of those charges have been withdrawn and a new charge of engaging in violent disorder has been brought in their place.

Judge Mary Dorgan remanded the accused in custody until June 5, to allow time for preparation of a book of evidence in his case.