Cork man accused of slashing Polish man with knife refused bail

It is alleged accused slashed the injured party on the right hand and forearm after row over cigarette, court told

Accused was remanded in custody until July 23. 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 was refused bail at his appeal to the High Court.

Judge Mary Dorgan was told on Tuesday the appeal by Shane Dineen was refused at the High Court.

Shane Dineen, 30, of no fixed address, appeared by video link from prison and was remanded in custody until July 23.

Sergeant John Kelleher said directions were not yet ready in the case. His solicitor Frank Buttimer asked if the matter that was taking time was the medical report on the injured party. Sgt Kelleher agreed this would be the issue.

Judge Dorgan said it was not an unreasonable amount of time for such a report.

Detective Garda Maurice Hickey objected when the matter first came before Cork District Court to the bail application by 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 said if granted bail he could reside with a friend at Hillsboro, off Old Blackrock Road, Cork.