Cork accused: Case against me like ‘Fawlty Towers’

A 50-year-old man who was released from a garda station on a public order charge carried out an assault on another man in Cork city four hours later, it was alleged during an objection to bail where the accused complained that the case was like Fawlty Towers.

In colourful evidence at Cork District Court where Gordon Sheerin denied assaulting the other man, he claimed he was the one who was injured and that he only defended himself.

Mr Sheerin was accused of assault causing harm to the other man at Lower Oliver Plunkett St on Wednesday afternoon, October 15.

Sergeant John Kelleher put it to Mr Sheerin at Cork District Court: “The other male was unconscious with head injuries.” The defendant replied: “That is a lie, he was semi-conscious.”

Someone at the back of the courtroom could be heard laughing at this point and Sgt Kelleher said to the unidentified person: “If you are laughing you can go outside, it is not funny.” Sheerin, who was in the witness box retorted: “It is funny, it is like something out of Fawlty Towers.”

Racket

Sgt Kelleher put it to the defendant that before this bail application, there was banging from the holding cell which could be heard in court and that he (Gordan Sheerin) was the one making the racket.

He agreed but added: “It is like a torture chamber downstairs. I meet a quack doctor. It is freezing. I asked for toilet paper and water and I didn’t get them.”

The allegations in the case from October 15 were that he was released from the Bridewell garda station after being charged with being drunk and a danger, and that within four hours he was involved in the assault.

The particulars were that he allegedly punched the other man twice in the face, caught him by throat and hit him on the ground.

He applied for bail through his solicitor Eddie Burke.

When garda evidence was given describing the accused as an alcoholic, Gordon Sheerin of Cork Simon Community spoke up from the dock: “How did you come to the conclusion I am an alcoholic? Are you a doctor? This is a farce altogether. The last time I was drunk was about seven years ago.”

Concerns

The prosecution case was that there were serious concerns he would not attend court and would continue to offend if granted bail.

Mr Burke said the defendant had injuries himself. Again Mr Sheerin spoke up: “There is a video, it’s self-explanatory.”

Asked by his own solicitor how he was getting on at the moment, Mr Sheerin replied: “Things have been going well recently. Everything is going grand, like. I don’t like lies. I just hate lies. I am a bit hyper at the moment.”

Judge Mary Dorgan refused bail on the charge of assault causing on October 15, and remanded him in custody until October 23 when he will appear by video link from prison.