Cork Prison inmate admits biting another prisoner's ear off

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that the accused was receiving mental health support from an organisation within the prison

The charge states that the assault occurred on April 9, 2023, on a prisoner at Cork Prison. File picture: Dan Linehan

The investigation into an attack in Cork Prison where a prisoner had his left ear bitten off resulted in a 28-year-old man pleading guilty to the attack on Friday.

Detective Sergeant Kieran O’Sullivan originally 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.

Through a Czech interpreter at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, the defendant was arraigned on the single charge of assault causing serious harm and he pleaded guility.

His senior counsel, Elizabeth O’Connell, said he was receiving mental health support from an organisation within the prison and she asked for a report to be made available to the court at sentencing.

Paula McCarthy, prosecution barrister, said a victim impact statement would have to be prepared. Judge Helen Boyle remanded the accused in custody for sentencing on November 6.

The specifics of the charge state that the assault occurred on April 9, 2023, on a prisoner at Cork Prison.