Man remanded on bail after being charged with manslaughter of friend

A man has been remanded on bail after he was charged with the manslaughter of a close friend in a shooting incident in Cork city earlier this year.

Trevor O'Gorman (44) from Sarahville Place, Pouladuff Road, Cork was charged on Friday morning with the manslaughter of Diarmuid Byrne (41) at Mr Byrne's home at Plunkett Road in Ballyphehane, Cork on April 26th, 2016.

Mr Byrne, a single man, died instantly after he suffered a gunshot wound to the head from his legally held shotgun while in an upstairs room of his family home on the day in question.

Det Sgt Mark Canny gave evidence on Friday of the arrest, charge and caution and told Cork District Court that Mr O'Gorman made no reply to the charge when it was put to him after caution.

Insp Billy Dwane said that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed trial by indictment at Circuit Court level on the single charge against Mr O'Gorman.

Insp Dwane said that gardaí were seeking a six week adjournment to allow completion of the book of evidence and he said that gardaí had no objection to the accused being released on bail.

Det Sgt Canny said that gardaí were seeking two bail conditions; that Mr O'Gorman would sign on daily at Togher garda station and that he would surrender his passport to gardaí.

Majella Graham, solicitor for Mr O'Gorman, said that her client was willing to give such an undertaking to the court. She also applied for free legal aid for her client who is unemployed.

Judge Leo Malone remanded Mr O'Gorman on his own bond of €500 to appear again at Cork District Court on December 21st. He also granted him free legal aid on the manslaughter charge.

Earlier this year, Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, told an inquest at Cork City Coroner's Court how she conducted a post-mortem on the body of the late Mr Byrne.

Dr Bolster told the inquest that Mr Byrne died from severe cerebral trauma from multiple lacerations to the brain including to the brain stem due to a gunshot wound to the head.