Gardaí object to bail for man accused of unprovoked assault on another man as he left optician in Cork City 

Man, 64, was violently struck on the right-hand side of his face under his right eye with a closed fist after he left appointment on Lavitt's Quay, court told

Gardaí described the accused man as a risk to the public. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

A 34-year-old man accused of carrying out an unprovoked assault on a 64-year-old man in Cork city centre in a lunchtime incident was described by gardaí as posing a risk to the public during an objection to bail.

After hearing the State objection and the application made on behalf of the accused by defence solicitor Diane Hallahan, Judge David Waters said at Cork District Court: “I am granting bail with some reluctance. I will remand him in custody with consent to bail until September 10 on his own bond of €500, nil lodgement, and a €1,500 independent surety, with €500 cash to be lodged.” 

Garda Jennifer Desmond objected to bail being granted to Mateusz Kowalkski, of no fixed address, because of the seriousness of the allegation in the case and the Garda view the accused man presents as a risk to society.

In terms of the allegations in the case, Garda Desmond said: “At 2pm on August 28, a 64-year-old man was attending an appointment with an optician on Lavitt's Quay in Cork City. When he was finished his appointment and exited the building onto the footpath, he was violently struck on the right-hand side of his face under his right eye with a closed fist by an unknown male. 

"He then stumbled onto the road as a result of the assault and pulled a muscle in his right leg. He suffered a cut which was bleeding under his right eye and there was large swelling.” 

Gardaí attended the scene and spoke to the injured party and to an independent witness who showed gardaí a picture of the suspect. Gardaí located the suspect on Anderson's Quay, Cork. Mateusz Kowalczyk was arrested for assault causing harm.

CCTV was obtained from Egan's Optician and the assault and suspect are fully captured in high-quality CCTV, Garda Desmond said.

The garda added the injured party had to attend hospital as a result of the assault and was told he would be out of work for six weeks and would have to wear an orthopaedic boot on his right leg for this duration also and would require physiotherapy due to his injuries.