Man accused of serious assault

A JURY was sworn in yesterday to hear the case against a man accused of having a machete and seriously assaulting another man.

Robert Crinnion, aged 26, of 1 Blackwater Grove, Togher, Cork, is accused of assault causing serious harm to Finbarr Delaney at 4 Plunkett Road, Ballyphehane, Cork, on February 7, trespassing at his house while armed with a machete and travelling in a stolen car at Plunkett Road.

Crinnion pleaded not guilty to all charges.

One of the first pieces of evidence was CCTV outside the home of the injured party. This recording was made by a camera mounted outside his home. MrDelaney was seen smoking a cigarette and speaking on a mobile phone shortly before 2am on February 7.

Jane Hyland, prosecution barrister, said two men attacked the injured party, one armed with a slash-hook, another with a machete. “The state say the accused, Robert Crinnion, and another gentleman left the scene.”

The injured party’s son, Robert Delaney, testified that on the night of February 6 he was in The Grafton Bar with his father and that he saw Pamela Crinnion in a row with the witness’s father, Finbarr Delaney.

Defence senior counsel, Blaise O’Carroll, put it to the witness that his father punched Ms Crinnion in the face that night. Robert Delaney denied that.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin told the jury of five women and seven men to return to court for the resumption of the trial on Monday.