Hammer allegedly produced during row over darts internet forum

A hammer was produced during an attack on a man following an early hours row about something which appeared on an internet forum on darts, it was alleged yesterday.

Ian Cullinane, aged 33, of 3 Briarwood, Old Youghal Road, Cork, faces two charges arising out of the alleged incident. Cullinane is charged with assault causing harm to Colin Walshe on Jun 18 last year and with producing a hammer during the alleged incident.

Inspector Mary King said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case could proceed at Cork District Court only on a plea of guilty to the charges.

After Judge Con O’Leary heard an outline of the allegations in the case he refused to accept jurisdiction. The case was then adjourned for a month to allow time for preparation and service of a book of evidence in advance of a trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Outlining the alleged details of the case, Insp King said Colin Walshe was playing darts and having a few drinks at a pub in Mayfield on the night of Jun 17 when Ian Cullinane asked him for a loan of €10 which he agreed to give him. At closing time Cullinane invited him back to his house with another man for a drink and Mr Walshe agreed.

Insp King said that later Mr Walshe was waiting for a taxi home from the defendant’s house when they started talking about a forum for darts on the internet. The inspector said the atmosphere changed and Cullinane allegedly punched Mr Walshe in the face. Mr Walshe claimed that he heard someone saying: “Get the hammer.”

He said he was struck on the arm with the hammer, head-butted in the face and that he also sustained a blow to the back of his head.

The inspector said Mr Walshe fled the scene through a back patio door and climbed a neighbour’s fence before someone alerted gardaí.