Man refused bail in iron bar assault case in Cork

A man accused of carrying out a serious assault on a housemate with an iron bar, this week, testified yesterday he had “a list of people I would take out of existence”.

Judge Leo Malone refused to grant bail to the accused man, Olumatemilorun Jimoh, and acceded to an application by the defence solicitor John Hussey to have the accused psychiatrically assessed while in prison.

The 21-year-old defendant smiled to himself from time to time during his unsuccessful application for bail.

Detective Garda Aidan Forrest said the accused said he could stay with his father in Glanmire, Co Cork, but gardaí checked with the family and were told the defendant is not welcome at that address. The case arose out of an incident on Blarney Street, Cork, where a 25-year-old Croatian man was left in a critical condition with head injuries.

Mr Jimoh is accused of assault causing serious harm to Denis Mandic at 334, Blarney St, on Thursday. He is also accused of having a 21.5cm bolting pin to cause injury to another person, Sindile Alex Iroaku.

At Cork District Court yesterday, Det Garda Forrest outlined the allegations. “It is alleged that he struck Denis Mandic with an eight-and-a-half-inch iron bar on the right side head in an unprovoked assault and then went out on to Blarney St with the aforementioned iron bar where he was seen by gardaí.

“Gardaí saw him carrying this same bar and acting in an aggressive manner. It is my belief that if given bail he would commit further serious offences and would interfere with state witnesses.”

The detective said the accused had no ties to the jurisdiction and gardaí believed he would abscond if given bail. Referring to the accused by the name TJ, his solicitor asked him how long he had been in Ireland. The accused replied almost nine years. The accused said he could live in Glanmire or at 334, Blarney St, if granted bail. Mr Hussey asked the accused: “If there is a further hearing of this court will you turn up?” The defendant replied, “I don’t think I will.” He later said: “If called to show up, yes.”

He was remanded in custody to appear at Cork District Court on Tuesday.