Man, 31, accused of sexual attack as woman walked home from bus stop in Cork suburb

A 31-year-old man charged with sexual assault and the robbery of a woman's mobile phone appeared before Cork District Court by video link from prison

On the application of Sergeant David Fleming, Judge David Waters remanded the accused man when he appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison. File picture: Larry Cummins

A man accused of sexually attacking a woman in her 40s as she walked from a bus stop on Blackrock Road in Cork has been remanded in continuing custody with consent to bail until October 29.

On the application of Sergeant David Fleming, Judge David Waters remanded the accused man when he appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison.

Detective Garda Sinéad Glanville outlined the allegations as she objected to bail being granted to the  31-year-old man when he first appeared in court last month, charged with sexual assault and robbery of the woman’s phone.

“The injured party was walking home from the bus stop when she was attacked from behind by a person unknown to her. She was knocked to the ground and touched several times in intimate areas outside her clothing.

“He attempted to touch her inside her clothing but she fought her attacker. The victim screamed. Such was the level of screaming that members of the public came from their homes to her assistance. He jumped up, grabbed her phone, and ran away,” said Det Garda Glanville.

Judge Waters said he would refuse jurisdiction to deal with the case at district court level.

Cross-examined by defence barrister Mahon Corkery, the detective agreed that the accused had no convictions of any kind.

The judge granted bail on condition that the accused would live at an address outside Cork City, remain outside the city except for court and legal appointments, have no contact with the injured party, and keep a curfew between 9pm and 8am. 

Judge Waters remarked that this would not be a hardship for the accused as the evidence was that he is unemployed. 

He was remanded in custody with consent to bail on those terms and he will also require an independent surety in the sum of €10,000 to be approved by the court. 

The 31-year-old was remanded in custody with consent to that bail.