Man visiting Cork for dance competition slashed with knife

Accused remanded in custody until June 18

The accused was denied baill. File picture: Larry Cummins

A Cork man accused of slashing a Polish man with a knife when the injured party was visiting Cork city centre for a dance competition has been remanded in custody.

Judge Mary Dorgan remanded him in custody until June 18, on the application of Sergeant Gearóid Davis at Cork District Court.

Shane Dineen, 30, of no fixed address, appeared by video link from prison and consented to the three-week adjournment. His solicitor Frank Buttimer said the accused should have had his High Court bail appeal heard by then. If successful, the defendant will be required to appear in court on June 18 in person.

Detective Garda Maurice Hickey objected last week at Cork District Court to bail being granted to 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 detective told the court that the woman who asked for the cigarette "then slapped her across the face" before 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."

The detective added that 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.

Dineen testified that 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 that in all the circumstances bail was being refused.