Man appears in court charged in connection with fatal assault of father-of-two

A 44-YEAR-OLD Limerick man has appeared in court in connection with the alleged fatal assault of father-of-two, Gerard Curtin in the early hours of Saturday morning.

At a special court sitting in Ennis, County Clare this Sunday evening, Joe Cahill, with an address of Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen, Limerick, appeared after he was charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Gerard Curtin at the same address on November 4.

The charge is contrary to Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Mr Curtin (pictured, below) was discovered unresponsive outside a house in the Garryowen area of the city in the early hours of Saturday morning.

There was a heavy garda presence, including members of the Armed Support Unit (ASU), at Ennis courthouse on Sunday evening for the two-minute court sitting.

In court, Inspector Daragh Browne, of Henry Street garda station in Limerick, told Judge Marie Keane that the garda application was for a remand in custody for Mr Cahill in order to get directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Garda Enda Barrett told the court that he arrested Mr Cahill for the purpose of charge at 12.54am on Sunday morning at Henry Street garda station, and later charged him at 1.20am.

Garda Barrett said that Mr Cahill made no reply when charged and cautioned.

Solicitor for Mr Cahill, Eamonn Dillon said that he had no questions for Garda Barrett on the arrest, charge and caution of his client.

Mr Dillon said that the garda applicaton for remand in custody was on consent and that he had no application for bail to make at this time.

No application was made for legal aid.

Judge Marie Keane remanded Mr Cahill in custody to appear via video link at Limerick District Court on Tuesday, November 7.

Earlier on Sunday, a garda statement stated that gardaí in Henry Street were continuing with their appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the early Saturday morning incident to contact them.

Gardai also stated that they were appealing that any person who was in the vicinity of Sarsfield Avenue on Saturday morning, November 4, between 4am and 5.15am, and who may have camera footage, including CCTV and dash cam footage, is asked to make this available to investigating ardaí. 

The funeral Mass for Mr Curtin of Railway House, Spitland, Old Cork Road, Limerick is to take place at St John’s Cathedral, Limerick on Wednesday, November 8.