Man, 33, accused of ‘predatory’ behaviour in Cork city

Approaches to three women allegedly made by a 33-year-old man on the same day were described as predatory, and when he was asked if he had found it hard to control himself, he replied: “No, I find it hard to control other people”.

Judge Mary Dorgan refused the bail application made by Eric Geaney, of no fixed address, at Cork District Court and recommended that he be given immediate medical and psychiatric attention on his admission to prison.

He was remanded in custody until February 5 on three simple assault charges and one of interfering with a vehicle where he tried to open the door of a woman’s car when she was stuck in traffic at Middle Glanmire Rd.

In the first assault charge, it was alleged that he grabbed a woman by the arm when she was shopping in Blackpool at 9.30am on January 21 and that when she said: “Don’t touch me”, he replied: “I’ll touch you if I want”, and left the area when approached by security staff.

Later that day at Murmont Ave in Mayfield, it was alleged by Garda Killian O’Connell that a 16-year-old girl was walking along with her grandmother when a man approached, struck the older woman once on the hand and said in reference to the teenager to “get away from her — a beautiful woman”.

Gda O’Connell said a woman alone in her car stopped in traffic on Middle Glanmire Rd saw a man outside staring in at her and she said he tried two or three times to open the handle of the door before she drove away.

When gardaí examined CCTV and questioned Mr Geaney about this incident he said: 

“I was likely entertaining myself or possibly arguing with myself”, the court heard.

In another alleged incident — giving rise to the third assault charge — a woman walking on Middle Glanmire Rd alleged that a man on the opposite side crossed and turned around to run after her, putting his hands on her shoulders and allegedly saying: 

“You walk like a man, I’m a man, I’ll show you a man”. 

She said he caught her right wrist tightly and then touched her stomach and chest outside her clothing, Gda O’Connell said.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said Mr Geaney would give evidence in his bail application. The defendant said he was originally from Mayfield and living between an abandoned property on Leitrim St and Cork Simon Community.

Mr Burke put it to the defendant that gardaí were concerned that he would commit such offences if given bail. He replied: “My intention is to go to the library and read up on my legal skills.”

Cross-examined by Sergeant Dave Delea about the alleged incidents, Mr Geaney said his testosterone levels were high at the moment. “And my woman is in treatment — maybe that is part of it.” He said that the previous night he was in a pub: “I was talking to three men about sex and orgies. I went to follow a bar woman [who rebuffed him]. That upset me. I was thinking about general sexuality.”

Sgt Delea asked: “Do you find it hard to control yourself?” Mr Geaney replied: 

“No. I find it hard to control other people. I should not have to do that. I am a good man.”

Judge Mary Dorgan said the matters before the court were only allegations, but she said she was concerned about “the predatory nature of them… And his own evidence today is concerning.”