LOCAL MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING MACROOMPENSIONER

CHRISTY O’CALLAGHAN ‘SERIOUS BUT STABLE’ IN HOSPITAL

A 30-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded in custody after he was charged in relation to a serious assault which has left a 73-year-old man in a critical condition in a Cork hospital.

Jonathan O’Driscoll, with an address of Coolcower House, Macroom, but originally from Dan Corkery Place in the town, was charged with assault causing harm to Christy O’Callaghan at Sleaveen East, Macroom, on March 21st.

Mr O’Driscoll was charged at a special sitting of Bantry District Court on Saturday.

Det Alan O’Sullivan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Mr O’Driscoll and told the court that the accused replied “I’m sorry” when the charge was put to him after caution.

Solicitor for Mr O’Driscoll Flor Murphy said that his client was seeking bail, but Insp Eamon Brady said that gardaí were objecting to bail because of the seriousness of the charge against Mr O’Driscoll.

Judge Con O’Leary granted the Garda application and refused bail. He remanded Mr O’Driscoll in custody to appear again at Bantry District Court on Thursday.

A native of New Street in Macroom, Mr O’Callaghan was sleeping in his van near Fitz- Gerald’s Funeral Home when he was assaulted in the early hours of March 21st.

Mr O’Callaghan is well known in greyhound racing circles, having trained a number of winners of the Irish Laurels, including Standard Images who won in 1995, and he also won the race in 1975, 1982 and 1983.