Man charged with assault causing harm to woman at Cork house granted bail

Gardaí arrested a 43-year-old man and charged him today with assault causing harm to a woman arising out of a serious incident at Evergreen Road in Cork on Monday where the garda helicopter was involved in the investigation.

The man who is not named for legal reasons was arrested by Detective Garda Patrick Houlihan and charged with carrying out an assault on a woman causing her harm, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, at Evergreen Road.

When he was charged and cautioned the 43-year-old replied, “Thanks so much for taking clear measures in this case. I look forward to being released and going back to my children.” 

Det. Garda Houlihan said there was no garda objection to bail in the case on conditions. 

He is to reside at an address in County Cork, sign daily at his local garda station, keep a curfew to be home between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., be of sober habits, have no contact directly or indirectly with the injured party, family or friends, stay out of the southside of Cork city, surrender his passport to gardaí, provide gardaí with a phone number and have it turned on at all times.

Frank Buttimer solicitor’s application for free legal aid will be decided by Judge Mary Dorgan on the next occasion as she required a written statement of the defendant’s means.

The case was adjourned, on the application of Sergeant Gearóid Davis, until April 24 for directions to be obtained in the case from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The accused had to be sworn in to give an undertaking, through an interpreter, that he would surrender his passport to his local garda station by 6 p.m. today and not use or obtain any other travel documentation.

Judge Dorgan made it a €5,000 bail but said no cash lodgement was required.

The court appearance today followed the investigation of a reported incident at Evergreen Road on Monday where it was alleged that a man fled from the scene and was found on waste ground nearby.

It was reported that a man allegedly forced his way into a house where he threatened a woman, who was at home alone with a child, and subjected her to a serious assault. Gardai cordoned off the area outside this house.

It was further reported that the woman managed to get free at around 9.40am on February 10, take her child with her, and run outside in her slippers to a pharmacy across the road, and that she apparently suffered slash wounds from a bladed instrument during her struggle to escape.