Man questioned over machete attacks in Cork city

By Eoin English

Gardaí are questioning a man about a spate of brutal machete attacks in Cork city.

The man, who is in his early 30s and originally from Waterford, was arrested as part of a special garda operation on the northside of Cork on Thursday night moments after a 19-year-old woman was attacked in the Shandon area.

He was taken to Mayfield Garda Station where he is being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

A machete recovered nearby is undergoing forensic tests.

The suspect, who also has an address in Cork city, is being questioned about this attack, and about three other similar incidents involving a machete on the northside of the city since last weekend.

Last Sunday night, a man in his early 50s was robbed after being threatened by two men on Upper John Street, one of whom was armed with a machete.

On Wednesday night, a woman in her early 50s was struck three times with a machete on Redemption Road.

After this attack, gardaí mounted a special operation to target the suspect.

But a machete-wielding attacker struck again in the Shandon area on Thursday night, attacking an 18-year-old man.

It is believed the same individual was responsible for attacking the 19-year-old woman minutes later.

The suspect can be held for up to 24 hours.