GARDAÍ IN Cork yesterday launched a murder inquiry following the death of a 30-year-old man from head injuries sustained when he was assaulted in the city centre over the weekend.
Ariel Cegielka, a Polish national, died at Cork University Hospital yesterday afternoon.
He failed to regain consciousness following an assault at Lower Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork city centre at about 6.30pm on Saturday.
Mr Cegielka had been staying at the Simon Shelter on Anderson’s Quay near where he was assaulted and gardaí had been trying over the weekend to make contact with relatives in Poland to notify them.
Yesterday afternoon, gardaí led by Supt Barry McPolin, of Anglesea Street Garda station, launched a murder investigation and requested the services of the State Pathologist’s office to carry out a postmortem.
Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis is to carry out the postmortem.
Gardaí had cordoned off the scene of the attack on Saturday evening and technical experts carried out a forensic examination of the area and recovered fragments of a broken bottle before the area was reopened to the public.
Detectives believe there may have been up to half a dozen people, many of whom may be living in nearby hostel accommodation, in the area at the time and they appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the assault to contact them at Anglesea Street station on 021-4522000. Gardaí have also begun examining CCTV footage from a number of local business premises, including hotels, to see if any of the cameras captured the assault.
Yesterday a 28-year-old man was charged with two offences relating to the incident. Connie Horgan with an address c/o St Vincent’s Hostel, Anglesea Street, Cork was charged with assault causing harm to Mr Cegielka.
Mr Horgan was also charged at Cork District Court with a second offence of producing an implement, namely a glass bottle, capable of causing serious injury in the course of an assault at Lower Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork on April 17th.
Garda Killian Mohally of Anglesea Street Garda station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told Judge Eamon O’Brien that Mr Horgan made no reply when the charges were put to him after caution.
Det Sgt Clodagh O’Sullivan said that gardaí were objecting to bail because of the seriousness of the charge and the fact that more serious charges could follow and given that Mr Horgan had no permanent address, they feared that he would abscond if granted bail.
Mr Horgan said that he would turn up for trial if granted bail and denied a suggestion by the prosecution that he would interfere with witnesses, adding that he would be contesting the charges on the grounds of self defence.
Judge O’Brien remanded the accused in custody to appear again at Cork District Court on April 26th for the Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP) directions.