Students attacked by Cork men tell court their parents are now afraid to let them leave China 

The three students, who were robbed and beaten with a crowbar by the defendants at their home, fled home to China after the attack 

Jury found 41-year-old Gerard Quinlan, of no fixed address, and 32-year-old Aidan Cullinane, both guilty of aggravated burglary and three counts of assault causing harm to the young people, who were staying at a house on Millerd Street, Cork City. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Chinese students visiting Cork to learn English were victims of a vicious attack by two Cork men, who broke into their home and beat them with iron bars, and now the parents of these young people do not want them to leave China because of their terrible experience in Ireland.

The language tuition schools, where they paid course fees of €6,000, have not given them any refunds even though they flew home in fear, only two months into their eight-month programmes in Cork.

One 22-year-old woman who on Friday described her injuries and her fear said: “I hastily flew back to China for fear of my safety. My family are now extremely concerned about my safety outside of China and they would staunchly oppose any of my plans to study or tour abroad, citing this incident as the reason.” 

A jury found 41-year-old Gerard Quinlan, of no fixed address, and 32-year-old Aidan Cullinane, both guilty of aggravated burglary and three counts of assault causing harm to the young people, who were staying at a house on Millerd Street, Cork City when this happened.

Sergeant Brain Barron said Quinlan and Cullinane did not know the victims, and broke into their home at 5.45am on April 17, 2024. The three young Chinese nationals were asleep at their home.

“The intruders burst into the two upstairs bedrooms simultaneously, demanding cash and mobile phones from the three petrified victims. 

"Following complete compliance with the demands of the two intruders, and having handed over what little money and mobile phones they had, the three residents were then subjected to a vicious and sustained assault at the hands of Aidan Cullinane and Gerard Quinlan, where all three were beaten with a crowbar over the next seven minutes. It resulted in significant injuries,” Sgt Barron said.

'I have nightmares'

The second student — a young man who is also in his 20s — said on Friday: “This incident has left significant physical and mental consequences on me. My hand and forehead still have visible scars. I have nightmares of this incident and wake up very scared.

“I also suffered significant financial losses. I never got any refund from the language school as I quit my study after feeling not safe in Ireland. I hastily left Ireland, so I left a lot of personal belongings which were not recovered. 

"I also had to come up with extra money for the flight ticket back to China… A career in Ireland had to be abandoned. My family were also deeply shocked by this incident, and now they would oppose any of my future plans to study or work outside of China because of what happened here in Cork.” 

The third victim is a 28-year-old Chinese national who is employed as an engineer in Cork, and her injuries included scars to her head and the breaking of ribs.

On Friday, she said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court: “I am also mentally shaken and impacted. Whenever I thought about the incident, I would become very upset and start to shed tears. I've also become extremely timid after the incident. I am now easily startled by any unfamiliar noise. 

"I must make sure doors of my residence are properly locked, checking again and again, even after rounds of previous inspection, just for reassurance. My family also suffer this extra mental burden together with me. 

"Although I was able to convince them to allow me back to Ireland, they always make multiple checks-ins every day for fear of my safety.” 

This young woman’s employer in Cork contacted her after she returned to China following the attack, and asked her to return to her job here and she agreed to do so.

The two language students returned to Cork this week for the trial by judge and jury. Their victim impact statements were heard on Friday, as they had flights back to China later this evening.

Judge Helen Boyle thanked all three victims for giving evidence during the trial and for their victim impact evidence.

Marjorie Farrelly, defence senior counsel, asked for a psychiatric report on Cullinane, who is on anti-psychotic medication in prison. Ms Farrelly also asked for a prison governor’s report.

Donal O’Sullivan, senior counsel for Quinlan, asked for a governor’s report and a report from the defendant’s GP.

Both men had denied the violent crimes, but the jury found them guilty.

Sentencing was adjourned until July 1, with the two accused remanded in custody.