Earlier this week, a violent assault on a Bus Éireann bus in Cork led to a 32-year-old man being taken into custody though he is permitted to apply for bail. The accused is William O’Sullivan, a resident of Comeragh Close, the Glen, Cork, who reportedly kicked a 41-year-old man in the head, rendering him unconscious on the bus’s upper level.
The victim was hospitalised at Cork University Hospital with seven separate rib fractures, necessitating an induced coma for his recovery. The attack, contravening Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, took place on Ballyhooley Road, Cork on October 2nd.
The detailed account of the incident was provided by Det Sgt Kieran O’Sullivan from the Watercourse Road Garda station. He highlighted the grave nature of the crime, pointing out that the assault took place on the 208 bus, in broad daylight, as it travelled from Cork City centre to Mayfield. The victim and the assailant, having prior knowledge of each other, were in a heated argument before the assault happened.
After administering multiple kicks to the victim’s body and head, William O’Sullivan then left the bus at Iona Park. The alarm was raised by fellow passengers, compelling the bus driver to halt the bus close to Mayfield Garda station on Colmcille Avenue. Medical aid was sought and the victim was swiftly transported to CUH.
After the incident, the victim has been taken out from the induced coma and is now recuperating in the ICU. Det Sgt Kieran O’Sullivan was not in favour of William receiving bail, based on his belief in the stringency of the evidence against the alleged assailant.
The entire event was caught on CCTV, revealing the assault on the incapacitated individual lying on the floor, receiving countless kicks to the head. Even once the victim had lost consciousness, the attack persisted. The possibility of the defendant, if released on bail, committing further severe crimes was emphasised. During cross-questioning by defence lawyer, Aoife Buttimer, Detective Sergeant O’Sullivan acknowledged that the defendant, Mr O’Sullivan, had turned himself in voluntarily at Mayfield Garda station a day after the offence took place. Ms Buttimer stated that her client claimed self-defence, backing this up with CCTV footage from the bus’s top level, demonstrating that the injured man had initially followed her client and thrown the inaugural blow, instigating the subsequent brawl. After a heated verbal exchange at the back of the bus, Mr O’Sullivan relocated his seating twice, each time pursued by the injured man who delivered the initial punch, Ms Buttimer contended. Detective Sergeant O’Sullivan stated that while a hand was indeed projected forward, no physical contact was established. He recounted the victim receiving a total of ten kicks to the midsection and four to the head while lying helpless on the ground. Post falling unconscious, the individual was subjected to an array of kicks to the skull, marking a brutal attack. Judge Philip O’Leary deemed the accusations to be critical, understanding, however, that the defendant had handed himself over in less than a day, made crucial confessions, and offered a reasonable defence. Judge O’Leary commanded Mr O’Sullivan to remain in custody, granting consent to bail under specific stipulations which encompass a cash deposit of €500, an additional independent surety of €1,500, a supplementary €500 in cash, and mandated him for a court appearance on October 11th.