A man has been remanded in custody after he was charged over an attack on an 80-year-old man who tried to prevent the theft of money from a church collection box. David O’Donovan (41) was charged with assault causing harm to the pensioner at St Augustine’s Church on the Grand Parade in Cork city centre on March 24th contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences against the Person Act. Det Garda Harrington accepted that Mr O’Donovan was on a treatment programme and he agreed that he had no history of violence but he did express concern that he might re-offend if granted bail. “I accept he has no history of violence but he had no recollection of the event when it was put to him - this was a completely unprovoked attack on an 80-year-old man and my fear is that it could happen again if he is granted bail,” he said. Judge Olann Kelleher refused Mr O’Donovan bail and remanded him in custody to appear again at Cork District Court on March 28th by video link.

Source: The Irish Times March 26, 2018 17:03 UTC