Man accused of unprovoked assault on Cork city street remanded in custody  

A 34-year-old male accused of carrying out an unprovoked assault on a 64-year-old man in a lunchtime incident in Cork city centre was remanded in custody with consent to bail until September 24.

The accused man - Mateusz Kowalczyk of no fixed address – appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison today. 

Judge David Waters remanded him in custody with consent to bail, saying that it was with some reluctance that he agreed to set bail but did so with a €1,500 independent surety, with €500 cash to be lodged.

Garda Jennifer Desmond objected to bail being granted to Mateusz Kowalczyk of no fixed address because of the seriousness of the allegation in the case, and the garda view that the accused man presents as a risk to society.

In terms of the allegations in the case, Garda Desmond said: “At 2pm on August 28, a 64-year-old man was attending an appointment with an optician on Lavitt's Quay in Cork city. When he was finished his appointment and exited the building onto the footpath, he was violently struck on the right-hand side of his face under his right eye with a closed fist by an unknown male. 

"He then stumbled onto the road as a result of the assault and pulled a muscle in his right leg. He suffered a cut which was bleeding under his right eye and there was large swelling.” 

Gardaí attended the scene and spoke to the injured party, and to an independent witness who showed them a picture of the suspect. Gardaí located the suspect on Anderson's Quay.

Mateusz Kowalczyk was arrested for assault causing harm.

The garda added that the injured party had to attend the hospital as a result of the assault and was told he will be out of work for six weeks and will have to wear an orthopaedic boot on his right leg for this duration. He will also require physiotherapy due to his injuries.

DPP directions are awaited in the case where the accused was represented by Diane Hallahan solicitor.