Czech national charged after Cork prisoner has ear bitten off

The attack took place in Cork Prison in April, 2023.

The investigation into an attack in Cork Prison where a prisoner had his left ear bitten off resulted in a 28-year-old Czech national being arrested and charged today.

Detective Sergeant Kieran O’Sullivan arrested Roman Becvár and charged him under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act with assault causing serious harm to another prisoner.

He was charged under Section 4 of that act — the most serious category of non-fatal assault.

A Czech interpreter was present when the accused was being charged at the courthouse on Anglesea Street. Asked if he had any reply to the charge after caution the accused man made no reply.

The specifics of the charge state that the alleged assault occurred on April 9, 2023.

Sergeant Pat Lyons said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case should be heard by judge and jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court or he could plead guilty at the district court and be sentenced at the circuit court.

Solicitor Shane Collins-Daly stood in for the defendant’s solicitor, Charles O’Connor, and applied for a copy of the prosecution statements to be sent to Mr O’Connor so that the defence could decide on the issue of pleading guilty or not guilty.

There was no application for bail on behalf of Mr Becvár. Judge Mary Dorgan remanded the accused in custody until March 14. Depending on what is indicated by the defence it will then be a matter of whether or not a book of evidence will have to be prepared.=