LAST UPDATE | 5 Nov 2023

A 44-YEAR-OLD Limerick man has appeared in court in connection with the alleged fatal assault of father of two, Gerard Curtin in the early hours of Saturday morning.

At a special sitting of Ennis District Court this evening, Joe Cahill with an address on Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen, Limerick appeared after being charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Gerard Curtin at the same address on 4 November.

The charge is contrary to Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Mr Curtin was discovered unresponsive outside a house in the Garryowen area of the city in the early hours of Saturday morning.

There was a heavy Garda presence, including members of the Armed Support Unit (ASU), at Ennis courthouse this evening for the two-minute court sitting.

In court, Insp Daragh Browne of Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick told Judge Marie Keane that the Garda application was for a remand in custody for Cahill in order to get directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Garda Enda Barrett told the court that he arrested Cahill for the purpose of charge at 0.54am on Sunday morning at Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick and later charged him at 1.20am.

Garda Barrett said that Cahill made no reply when charged and cautioned.

Solicitor for Cahill, Eamonn Dillon said that he had no questions for Garda Barrett on the arrest, charge and caution of his client.

Dillon said that the Garda application for remand in custody was on consent and that he had no application for bail to make at this time.

No application was made for legal aid.

Judge Marie Keane remanded Cahill in custody to appear via video link at Limerick District Court on Tuesday, 7 November.

Earlier on Sunday, a Garda statement stated that Gardaí in Henry Street were continuing with their appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the early Saturday morning incident to contact them.

Gardai also stated that they were appealing that any person who was in the vicinity of Sarsfield Avenue on Saturday morning 4 November, between 4am and 5.15am, and who may have camera footage, including CCTV and dash cam footage, is asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.

The funeral mass for Mr Curtin of Railway House, Spit Land, Old Cork Rd, Limerick is to take place at St John’s Cathedral, Limerick on Wednesday, 8 November.