Case against man accused of assault after bursting into bedroom in Cork city adjourned

The case against one of the men accused of bursting into the bedrooms of three young people in Cork city last April, before inflicting a “vicious” assault on them, has been adjourned until January 16.

As Judge Mary Dorgan remanded the accused in continuing custody until that date at Cork District Court, the accused man, Aidan Cullinane, spoke up by video link from prison: “I am in custody since September — four months.”

Judge Dorgan did not accede to an application by defence solicitor Frank Buttimer to make the adjournment peremptory against the State.

Sergeant John Kelleher said: “I will contact the DPP asking to have the matter expedited as soon as possible.”

Mr Cullinane, aged 32, of St Joseph’s Park, The Lough, Cork, is charged with carrying out a burglary and assault causing harm to one man and two women. The injured parties were in their 20s.

Detective Garda Brian Barron said: “It is alleged that at 5.45am on April 17 Aidan Cullinane [and another man] entered a dwelling house at Millerd St, Cork city, as intruders.

“They were not known to the people living there — three occupants are Chinese nationals. They were asleep. The intruders burst into the two upstairs bedrooms simultaneously, demanding cash and mobile phones from the petrified victims. It is alleged that following complete compliance with the demands of the two, and having handed over what little money and mobile phones they had, the three residents were subjected to a vicious and sustained assault at the hands of Aidan Cullinane and [the other man], where all three were beaten with a crowbar.”