Jury sworn in before guilty plea to assault causing harm

A jury was sworn in to hear the case against a man who denied a charge of assault causing harm to another man in North Cork two years ago but, after an adjournment, the accused man pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of common assault.

Michael Hourigan, aged 41, of Coolagh, Newmarket, Co Cork, first pleaded not guilty to the more serious charge of assault causing harm.