Man accused of attempted murder in Cork city set for trial 

A book of evidence was served yesterday on a 32-year-old man accused of attempted murder, arising out of an investigation into the alleged arson of a house in Cork city on Christmas Day.

On the application of Sergeant Gearóid Davis, Judge Mary Dorgan sent the case forward from Cork District Court to the Central Criminal Court. A date will be set by that court for a trial of the case.

Representing the accused man, Shane Casey, defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher applied to have legal aid extended for a barrister and senior counsel to represent the accused at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Dorgan granted that application.

Detective Garda Brian Barron charged Shane Casey of Shanowen, Rathcormac, Cork, with the attempted murder of Billy Murphy, the owner of the house at Dyke Parade, Cork, who is a man in his 60s.

He also charged Mr Casey with assault causing harm to Mr Murphy, production of an article — namely a blade — in the course of the assault, and causing criminal damage to the house with intent to endanger life.

All four charges are contained in the book of evidence that was served yesterday.

Bail application

Mr Kelleher said sufficient time had elapsed where a renewed bail application could be brought but that, in any event, this could not be brought at District Court level because one of the counts is of attempted murder.

On such a charge, only the High Court can decide on the question of bail.

It was previously alleged that the accused set fire to the house on Dyke Parade just after 6pm on December 25, 2023, when four people were present in the house and that the accused man stood outside swinging a blade when the first person ran from the burning building, telling him: “You are going to die here tonight.”

CCTV

Referring to CCTV and other evidence, Detective Garda Barron said: “At 6.05pm, [Mr Casey] exits and stands looking in the open front door at the fire taking hold. At 6.06pm, it is alleged that he closes the front door and attempts to barricade the front door from the outside, using a piece of timber to jam to the side and then under the door.

“It is alleged he takes a blade from his pocket and holds it out in front of him and waits outside. At 6.08pm, the front door bursts open and [one of the men] attempts to escape the now blazing house.

“It was alleged he said [to one injured party]: ‘My name is Shane Casey and you remember me from two days ago — you are going to die here tonight.’”

It was further alleged that one woman had to be rescued from the roof, and that it took six units of the fire service more than six hours to bring the fire under control and make the building safe and the fire caused thousands of euro in damage, the detective said.