Man accused of bashing boutique owner said he ‘intended to hit someone else’
Suspect, 25, remanded over alleged ‘street assault’
A MAN charged over an alleged random street assault which left a clothing boutique owner with a fractured ankle told gardai he had intended to target someone else, a court heard.
Conor Greaney, 25, appeared before Cork District Court on Saturday, where he said the alleged incident outside the GPO in the city was a case of mistaken identity.
However, a garda also told the judge the accused had vowed to get his intended target next time.
Garda Orla Moriarty gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Greaney, who is of no fixed address.
He made no reply when he was charged with assault causing harm to Selina Regazzoli at 9.40am last Thursday.
Garda Moriarty said Greaney approached Ms Regazzoli, 35, and struck her in the face in an alleged unprovoked assault.
She added the accused allegedly hit and pushed the woman who fell and dislocated and fractured her right ankle.
She was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where she underwent surgery.
Garda Moriarty said the alleged assault was captured on CCTV and Greaney admitted he was responsible when questioned. The garda said officers were concerned Greaney would commit further crimes if granted bail and would possibly interfere with witnesses in the case.
Cross-examined barrister Elaine Audley BL, Garda Moriarty accepted the injured woman was from Dublin and was not residing in Cork.
However, she said Ms Regazzoli has a large social media presence with more than 28,000 followers on Instagram.
She added Greaney might opt to make contact online.
A Garda objection to the granting of bail in the case was made arising out of the gravity of the charge and the strength of the evidence.
Greaney indicated he had been addicted to cocaine and benzodiazepines.
He said he was drug-free for 36 months up until his recent relapse
by after the death of his grandfather at Christmas 2023.
Greaney told Judge Mary Dorgan: “I’m not going to Dublin looking for an innocent woman, I feel terrible, I’m disgusted with myself.
“I am not a monster, I didn’t intend to go as hard as I did.
“I didn’t intend to break anyone’s bones.
“I didn’t mean for it to go as far as it did.
“I meant to more or less frighten the woman, that was all. “I’m not saying I have no self-control.
“I thought it was somebody else that was harassing me.
“I meant to frighten her. “I didn’t mean for her to twist and break her ankle.”
Judge Dorgan remanded Greaney, who is originally from Farranaree in Cork city, in custody to appear again at Cork District Court on March 14 by video-link.