Four Corkmen have appeared in court today in relation to a violent assault on a student in the Grand Parade area of Cork city last year.
Mr Denis Franklin, who was from Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, has been on a life support system after he suffered serious head injuries when he was attacked in the city centre in the early hours of February 17th 2002.
Mr William St Ledger (20) 49 Woodview, Pinecroft, Douglas; Mr Ian Cronin (20), of 4 Shamrock Ave, Douglas;Mr Alan Harte (20) of 20 Leamlara Close, Togher and Mr Robert Carlile (21) of 22 Grangewood Court have been charged with causing serious harm to the student who attended Cork Institute of Technology.
While an application for parole was not objected to, Gardaí recommended the men's passports be surrendered to the authorities and that they be ordered to sign on three times a week, at Togher Garda station.
All four men have been remanded on bail to appear again on May 28th 2003, while the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that they be tried by judge and jury at circuit court level.