Petrol attack on pregnant woman — new charges

Two new charges were brought yesterday in the case against a man accused of attempting to set fire to a pregnant woman working at a pharmacy in Cork.

Alan Foley, aged 33, of no fixed address, was previously before Cork District Court on a charge of assault causing harm to the woman at the Doc Morris pharmacy on Grand Parade, Cork, shortly before lunchtime on Jan 10. Yesterday at the same court, Garda Deirdre Crowley charged him with two fresh counts.

Foley was charged with intentionally or recklessly creating a risk of death or serious injury during the same incident. The particulars in the charge state that he allegedly threw accelerant from a used milk carton at a person and then threw lighting tissue at her.

The second charge was of having the milk carton, accelerant and lighter in his possession with the intention of causing injury or incapacitating a person by setting them on fire.

Insp Bill Duane applied for an adjournment of the case for a week to allow time for preparation and service of a book of evidence.

Judge Leo Malone granted that adjournment on the two new charges and on the original assault charge. Foley was remanded in custody after an earlier refusal of bail.

Garda Mark Harrington said at the previous bail application that it was alleged the accused entered the pharmacy and approached a staff member. Foley then got into an argument with another man outside the counter and the woman behind the counter asked them to calm down.

“He then took out a plastic container and threw petrol in the injured party’s face. He began lighting toilet paper and throwing this at the injured party.” The garda said the woman was seven months pregnant.