Polish man visiting Cork for dance competition slashed with knife outside city centre hotel

Accused allegedly slashed the injured party on the right hand and forearm after his female companion started row over cigarette

Accused was refused bail and was remanded in custody to appear before court again on May 28. Picture: Larry Cummins

A Polish man was slashed with a knife during a visit to Cork city centre for a dance competition resulting in possibly permanent damage and he was due to have surgery on the injury on Tuesday.

This evidence was given by Detective Garda Maurice Hickey at Cork District Court, where there was an objection to bail being granted to Shane Dineen on a charge of assault causing harm to the Polish man on Monday, May 20.

The detective said one of the grounds for objection was the seriousness of the alleged offence.

“At 2.50am on May 20, the injured party was outside the Premier Inn on Morrison’s Island with six of his friends, who were all over from Poland for a dance competition.

“Shane Dineen and a female companion approached the group and asked a female friend of the injured party for a cigarette, to which she replied that she didn’t smoke. [The woman who asked for the cigarette] then slapped her across the face.

“[The man with the woman who was slapped] intervened by pushing the assailant away, resulting in her falling to the ground. Shane Dineen and his female companion are then seen going towards the man. Shane Dineen then produces a knife that he had on him and threatens the people at the scene by waving it recklessly and menacingly towards them.

“It is alleged that he slashes the injured party on the right hand and forearm. [CCTV allegedly shows that] he then continues to threaten the other people and kicks at them, all the while brandishing the knife in his hand. The injured party flees to the hotel for safety. Shane Dineen attempts to follow him in, getting as far as the lobby, where he again brandishes the knife,” Det Garda Hickey said.

Shane Dineen testified if granted bail he could reside with a friend at Hillsboro, off Old Blackrock Road, Cork, and sign twice a day at a Garda station if necessary.

Judge Mary Dorgan said she had listened closely to what the accused had to say through his solicitor Frank Buttimer, and the evidence of the prosecution, and that in all the circumstances bail was being refused.

Mr Buttimer had contended it was likely that the case would proceed by indictment and that a book of evidence would have to be prepared and that if refused bail the accused could be remanded in custody for a number of months pending trial.

Shane Dineen, 30, of no fixed address had the case against him adjourned until May 28.