Cork man admits unprovoked assault on social media influencer in case of mistaken identity

Accused hit and pushed the victim, who fell and suffered a dislocation and fracture to her right ankle and she had to be taken by ambulance to hospital, court told

Defendant told court he thought Selina Regazzoli, pictured, was someone else who was harassing him. Picture: Instagram

A Cork man confessed to assaulting a 35-year-old businesswoman and social media influencer in Cork city centre almost two years ago in what was described as a case of mistaken identity.

25-year-old Conor Greaney, of Farranferris Avenue, Farranree, Cork, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on the single count on the indictment. He replied: “Guilty”, to the charge that at about 9.40am on March 7, 2024, outside the GPO on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, he assaulted Dublin boutique owner Selina Regazzoli, who was 35 at the time, causing her harm.

Prosecution barrister Mary O’Dwyer said a victim impact statement would be sought by the prosecution in advance of sentencing.

Elaine Audley, defence barrister, said the defendant was keen for sentencing to proceed in the present sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Helen Boyle adjourned sentencing until February 23.

Garda Orla Moriarty of Anglesea Street Garda Station originally arrested and charged Mr Greaney with the assault on Ms Regazzoli, causing her harm.

Garda Moriarty said at an earlier court hearing that gardaí would allege Mr Greaney approached Ms Regazzoli outside the GPO while she was walking to work and that he struck her in the face in what was unprovoked attack on an innocent victim.

She said Mr Greaney hit and pushed Ms Regazzoli, who fell and suffered a dislocation and fracture to her right ankle and she had to be taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital to undergo surgery.

Garda Moriarty said the entire incident was captured on CCTV, which clearly identified Mr Greaney as Ms Regazzoli’s assailant, and he had admitted the assault when questioned by gardaí.

Mr Greaney had stated at interview following his arrest that Ms Regazzoli was not the intended target of his attack, Garda Moriarty said.

The accused said he did not know Ms Regazzoli and the assault on her was a case of mistaken identity as his intended victim was someone who was harassing him.

“I feel terrible, I’m disgusted with myself. I am not a monster, I didn’t intend to go as hard as I did. I didn’t intend to break anyone’s bones. I meant to more or less frighten the woman… I thought it was somebody else that was harassing me,” he said at the earlier hearing.