Accused beaten up by witness, court told

A TRIAL for serious assault had to be adjourned because the accused himself was attacked on Friday night and badly beaten up …

A TRIAL for serious assault had to be adjourned because the accused himself was attacked on Friday night and badly beaten up by a civilian prosecution witness.

When the accused man appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with two very prominent black eyes and a cut on the bridge of his nose his counsel, Mr, Anthony Sammon SC, sought an adjournment of the trial, which was due for hearing next Monday. Mr Sammon said his client had been attacked by a prosecution witness and he needed time to allow his appearance to heal before he faced a jury.

Judge Cyril Kelly granted the adjournment to January 17th.

The 24 year old accused man is charged with assaulting another man in Ballymun, causing him grievous and actual bodily harm, in September 1995. He said he had been attacked by two men last week and spent two days in the Mater Hospital as a result, missing a consultation with his legal advisers.