Man, 38, guilty of vicious city attack

A Cork man who denied any part in a vicious lunchtime attack in the city, claiming he was having lunch in a café with his wife at the time, was yesterday found guilty of the crime.

The jury came back after approximately three hours of deliberation with an 11-1 majority verdict.

The jury requested a recording of evidence by a detective in the case be played for them in the course of their deliberations.

Trevor O’Sullivan, aged 38, with an address at Roche’s Buildings, Richmond Hill, Cork, pleaded not guilty to a robbery charge.

Detective Garda Edmond O’Donoghue’s evidence, as recorded on the official recording system in the court- room, was replayed for the jury.

Det Garda O’Donoghue testified the injured party had very obvious injuries to the side of his face which was bruised and bleeding.

A description was given of two tall males in jeans and T-shirts being the attackers.

“I made my way back down Thomas Davis Street and I saw two males heading towards The Coffee Pot on Thomas Davis Street. I stopped and spoke to the two males. A female came out of The Coffee Pot. She was very abusive and irate and wanted to know what was my business talking to the two men,” the detective said.

He further testified a garda colleague told him the injured party had identified the two males as the culprits.

Cross-examining, defence barrister Paula McCarthy said Trevor O’Sullivan’s brother, Thomas, had admitted carrying out the robbery and said Trevor had nothing to do with it.

Trevor’s wife said he was in The Coffee Pot with her at the relevant time, at lunchtime that day.

The jury was told the defendant’s brother, Thomas O’Sullivan, aged 31, of 2 Comeragh Close, The Glen, Cork, had pleaded guilty to the same charge, namely robbery from a man at Spring Lane, Blackpool, Cork, at lunchtime on Tuesday, May 24.