Cork man (42) faces High Court bail bid after alleged knife attack on partner and daughter

A 42-year-old Cork man accused of stabbing his partner 15 times and injuring his adult daughter is seeking High Court bail. The District Court previously refused bail, citing witness interference concerns.

Cork knife attack accused seeks High Court bail after District Court refusal

A 42-year-old man accused of inflicting 15 stab and defensive wounds and a fractured cheekbone on his partner is to bring a bail application before the High Court, TheJournal.ie reports.

The man appeared before Cork District Court by video link, having been remanded in custody since the alleged incident in the early hours of 5 September. He also allegedly stabbed his adult daughter in the breast area during the same attack.

He has no previous convictions.

The case was adjourned for four weeks to 22 October, with the man's consent. His solicitor, Frank Buttimer, was unable to represent him following a withdrawal of services by solicitors. Judge Liz Healy was informed that a High Court bail application has already been lodged.

District Court bail previously refused

At an earlier sitting on 8 September, the accused addressed Cork District Court directly, describing his family as "the perfect, happy, loving family" before cocaine addiction, in his words, destroyed his life.

He wept in court as he apologised to his partner and daughter for the hurt he had caused them.

"The horrible disease of addiction changed my life. I have never hurt anyone. We were the perfect, happy, loving family, that anyone could ask for," he told the court.

"I am battling cocaine addiction for the last two years. This addiction has ruined my life. I want to get into rehabilitation immediately to change my life… I am a happy, loving, caring person affected by addiction. I want my life back."

The man said he wanted his drug addiction problems "sorted" and told Judge David Waters that he hoped to be admitted to a psychiatric facility for inpatient mental health treatment. He insisted he had no recollection of the alleged incident.

"They are the love of my life. I would not harm anyone. I am a hardworking man. I would never knowingly harm my family. I will never ever contact them again."

He added: "I need to fix my life before I can fix anything else. I will never again use them (drugs). I never ever harmed or even raised my voice to the kids. I love them to bits. They are my whole life."

Judge: 'Savage and serious assault on two innocent parties'

Judge Waters declined to grant bail at that sitting. He described the alleged attack as appearing to involve "a savage and serious assault on two innocent parties" and said the accused had not shown "one iota of concern" for his family.

Detective Garda Eoghain O'Callaghan told the court that the alleged incident occurred at approximately 2am on 5 September and gave rise to two charges of assault causing harm. He said gardaí were seriously concerned the accused would interfere with witnesses if released on bail.

The man had previously told Judge Waters he did not know how to resolve his problems from prison and promised to stay away from his family if granted bail in order to attend rehabilitation.

An interim barring order has been granted, requiring the accused to stay away from the family home. District Court jurisdiction has been refused, and a book of evidence is currently being prepared in the case.

Source: TheJournal.ie