Hotel guest who denies biting security man’s face is returned for trial

A 29-year-old man accused of biting a security guard in the face for up to 20 seconds during an alleged attack in a Dublin 4 hotel room has been sent forward for trial.

Paul O’Shea from Whitethorn Rise, Artane, Dublin 5, had been charged earlier at Dublin District Court with assault causing harm to Waseeq Rehman, in a room at the Burlington Hotel on March 4th last year.

After hearing an outline of the allegations, Judge William Early had held that the case was too serious to be dealt with in the district court.

Mr O’Shea was served with a book of evidence yesterday and Judge Early said he was being returned for trial to the next sittings of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has tougher sentencing powers.

Judge Early had heard earlier that it would be claimed that security staff went to the room following complaints from other guests who said they had heard a female’s cries coming from one of the rooms.

The security man and a colleague went to the room and it was alleged that Mr O’Shea bit Mr Rehman on the left side of his face for 15 to 20 seconds, leaving him bleeding.

The judge had also heard it would be alleged Mr O’Shea was intoxicated and threatened security staff as well as gardaí who came to the hotel that they would “be stabbed and shot”.

The District Court had heard he was later interviewed and it was claimed he told gardaí he did not remember the night because he was intoxicated and on Lexapro, an anti-depressant medication.

Defence solicitor Stephen O’Mahony had told Judge Early his client would be contesting the allegations.