Allegation of stalking and assault of 66-year-old in Cork city

A vulnerable 66-year-old man was stalked on the street in Cork city in the middle of the day before being subjected to a violent assault by a man with an implement, it was alleged in the case against a 39-year-old man who was remanded in custody until February 27.

Jonathan Mason of Farranferris Park, Farranree, Cork, is charged with carrying out the assault causing harm on a 66-year-old man at Great William O’Brien St, Cork, at 12pm on Thursday, January 16.

Mr Mason appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison on this assault charge.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said the accused man consented to a four-week adjournment to February 27 to allow time for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Judge Mary Dorgan said that if the accused secured High Court bail in the meantime, he should appear in court in person on the adjourned date.

Detective Garda Brian Holland said: “Jonathan Mason knows the injured party and knows the address where he resides — a vulnerable 66-year-old man.

“This was a senseless and violent act on a vulnerable, elderly man that was planned and carried out in the middle of the afternoon,” he added.

“He stalked his victim and followed him and seriously assaulted him.”

Mr Burke told the court that the defendant insisted that he had nothing to do with the crime.

Denying that he had anything to do with the crime, Mr Mason said: “I am not a violent person. I stay in my nanny’s or in my partner’s in Charleville.

“I am clean of drugs. I’m on Suboxone.

“I pass that way [where the crime was committed] every day to collect my tablet next door to Watercourse Road Garda Station.

“I am willing to stay out of Cork. My dad is the same age [as the injured party].

“I wouldn’t like that to happen to my dad.”