A couple have appeared before Cork District Court charged in connection with an incident in Patrick Street in the city on Wednesday where French students in their early teens had a phone stolen whilst one of their teachers was allegedly assaulted.
The couple in their 20s, who can’t be named for legal reasons, are charged with robbery at St Patrick’s Street in Cork on Wednesday. Sgt David Delea indicated that further more serious charges could follow.
Detective Garda Conor Cronin gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He said that one of French students had her mobile phone stolen from her after a man and woman approached the group on the street at around 10.20pm on Wednesday.
It was claimed that the female believed one of the teenagers was laughing at her.
“The female began shouting at her (one of the students) and grabbed her Samsung phone out of her hand putting her in fear.”
He indicated that the female then tried to leave with the phone. She was stopped by one of the teachers who tried to get the phone back. The teacher and the woman fell to the ground during the dispute.
Dt Garda Cronin said that the male teacher was struck up to ten times in the back and upper body with a screwdriver by the man.
“The female then threw a coffee cup at the teacher striking him in the face. The male and female then left the area.”
The court heard that the group of French students are in Ireland on a school tour. It is alleged that the male accused handed over the stolen Samsung phone to gardaí on Thursday at a location in Cork.
Defence barrister, Alan O’Dwyer, said that the female defendant was willing to obey any and all conditions set down by the court.
The woman was remanded on bail until September 26th next, when DPP directions are expected in the case. She was remanded on her own bond of €1,000 and ordered to obey a curfew from 11pm to 6am.
Judge Mary Dorgan also ordered the woman to sign on daily at her local garda station and to stay away from Cork city centre unless she has to attend for legal or medical appointments.
Mr O’Dwyer also represented the male defendant whom he said had stayed out of trouble for a period of three to four years. He applied for bail in the case and said that his client was the breadwinner in his household.
Mr O’Dwyer told Judge Dorgan that his client had “fallen off the wagon” in recent days. He said that the man was willing to sign on at his local in garda station twice daily and to obey a curfew from 6pm to 8am daily.
He added that his client had pledged to stay out of Cork city centre other than to attend legal and medical appointments.
Sgt Delea objected to bail being granted to the man. He stated that even stringent bail conditions were not acceptable to the State in relation to the male accused.
Judge Dorgan remanded the man in custody, with consent to bail, to appear before the court again on July 30th next. She will revisit the question of identification when the man is next before Cork District Court.
The male defendant has to engage with addiction services in the interim. He has been ordered to produce evidence of clear supervised urine samples whilst he is on bail.
He also has to obey a curfew from 6pm to 8am daily, sign on daily at his local garda station and pay his own bond of €1,000.
