Man charged with assault of Cork City councillor and multiple shoplifting offences 

Accused also charged with threatening gardaí and shouting 'I’ll kick the s*** out of you', court heard

Accused threatened Cork City councillor Laura Harmon by shouting ‘I will kill you', court told. File picture: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

A Labour Party councillor was the victim of assault by a 21-year-old man in difficulty who she was trying to assist in Cork city centre, it was alleged on Friday at Cork District Court.

Garda Dean O’Sullivan objected to bail being granted to Christhian Bajoras. He is charged with assaulting Laura Harmon.

“On September 19, it is alleged he threatened city councillor Laura Harmon by shouting ‘I will kill you’, at her. It is alleged Christhian Bajoras came into her personal space and made Laura Harmon believe he was going to assault her until passers-by intervened,” Garda O’Sullivan said.

In relation to the assault charge, there is no allegation of physical contact but allegations of being put in fear of assault can constitute assault.

The same young man, who is originally from Ballicollig, Co Cork, and now living at Deerpark House on Friars Walk, faced multiple charges related to alleged incidents on Thursday, September 19.

Garda O’Sullivan said: “It is alleged that on the same date at Centra, North Main Street he took a bottle of beer valued €6.50 and left the store and re-entered an hour later and took another bottle. He was approached by the manager who alleged that Mr Bajoras kicked him in the leg and fled the shop.” 

Other shoplifting charges were brought against him — all from September 19 — related to Tesco on Paul Street, My Cork on St Patrick’s Street and Dealz on Grand Parade.

“Having received a number of calls about him, gardaí approached him on St Patrick’s Street and observed that he was highly intoxicated, shouting ‘I’ll kick the s*** out of you’ and continually calling gardaí ‘c***s’.

“Following his arrest, Garda Barry O’Shea was searching him and Mr Bajoras proceeded to headbutt Garda O’Shea,” Garda O’Sullivan testified.

Objection to bail

Sergeant John Kelleher objected to bail.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said before July of this year, the defendant had never come to the attention of gardaí. He said he was out of home because he was smoking ‘weed’. 

He said the young man was diagnosed with schizophrenia and drug-induced psychosis. Mr Burke said the young man was on a depot injection to deal with these matters but had stopped taking it because he felt it hurt him.

In this own evidence, the defendant admitted saying to gardaí: “I steal from the rich.”

He told Judge Philip O’Leary he said that to clarify he did not steal from poor people but added he understood stealing from anyone was wrong.

Judge O’Leary said he would remand the accused in custody until September 25 and said the bail application could be resumed on that date in an effort to see if he could get the treatment he needs.

Judge O’Leary said: “I have serious concerns about him. I accept this man needs treatment for serious difficulties of a psychiatric nature. I have a lot of sympathy for him. He is a young man with difficulties — I am very concerned about what might happen [if he was released].” 

The judge agreed to an application by Mr Burke to request of the prison authorities immediate medical and psychiatric attention for the young man.