32-year-old charged with attempted murder of Cork man 

AN attempted murder charge was brought today against a 32-year-old man arising out of an investigation into the alleged arson of a house in Cork city on Christmas Day.

Detective Garda Brian Barron formally arrested Shane Casey of Shanowen, Rathcormac, County Cork, and charged him today with the attempted murder of Billy Murphy, the owner of the house at Dyke Parade, Cork.

The accused made no reply to that charge when arrested, charged and cautioned at 10.39 am this morning at the courthouse on Anglesea Street, Cork, on the count of attempted murder of the man in his 60s.

He did not reply to the three other new charges brought against him either.

Those charges are of assault causing harm to Billy Murphy, production of an article, namely a blade, in the course of the assault, and finally causing criminal damage to the house with intent to endanger life.

Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said that because there was an attempted murder charge there could be no application for bail at district court level.

Inspector Martin Canny said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case should proceed at the Central Criminal Court.

Judge Philip O’Leary remanded Shane Casey in custody until June 5 at Cork District Court.

Det. Garda Barron said that date was sought for the adjournment in order to link up with other charges including arson brought against him arising out of this investigation.

In relation to the arson charge it was previously alleged that he set fire to the house and stood outside swinging a blade when the first person ran from the burning building, telling him, “You are going to die here tonight.” 

These were the allegations made by Detective Garda Barron in the case when Shane Casey first appeared in court in relation to the alleged incidents at the house on Dyke Parade, Cork, just after 6pm on December 25, 2023 when four people were present in the house.

Referring to CCTV and other evidence, the detective said, “At 6.05pm, he 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.