Man appears in court charged with assaulting Alan Bourke in Limerick

A 38-year-old man appeared in court on Sunday charged with the assault and robbery of Alan Bourke.

On April 15th, Mr Bourke (48) from St Mary’s Park in Limerick, was found seriously injured on the forecourt outside Colbert train station on Parnell Street and he later died in hospital.

At a special mid-day sitting of Ennis District Court in Co Clare on Sunday, Michael Casey of Cathedral Place, Limerick, appeared after being charged with the assault causing harm of Mr Bourke at Parnell Street, Limerick on Friday, April 15th.

The assault charge is contrary to section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act.

Mr Casey is also charged with robbing Mr Bourke of a bicycle valued at €150 and cans of alcohol valued at €10 at the same location on the same date.

Mr Casey also faces a separate assault causing harm charge of another man, at Davis Street, Limerick on April 15th.

In court Det Garda Dean Landers of Roxboro Road Garda station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution of Mr Casey at 7.58pm on Saturday night at Henry Street station.

Det Landers said Mr Casey made no reply after caution to the three charges.

Solicitor for Mr Casey Darach McCarthy told Judge Mary Cashin there would be no application for bail and there was consent to Mr Casey being remanded in custody to appear via video link at Limerick District Court on Tuesday, April 26th.

Legal aid

Mr McCarthy applied for legal aid for his client, saying he was a suitable candidate as he was unemployed.

The judge granted legal aid.

Mr McCarthy also asked the judge to direct the Prison Service to medical assess and treat Mr Casey as appropriate. Mr McCarthy said he was making the application “with some urgency”.

The judge directed that the Prison Service provide all medical treatment to Mr Casey as appropriate.

Mr Casey’s appearance in court on Sunday followed the appearance of Mark Ryan (35) of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, Limerick, at a separate special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday evening.

Mr Ryan faces a single charge of robbing Mr Bourke of cans of alcohol valued at €10 and a pedal cycle valued at €150 at Parnell Street, Limerick, Friday week last on April 15th.

Mr Ryan, also unemployed, was also remanded in custody to appear at Limerick District Court on Tuesday.