LAST UPDATE | 5 Mar 2020

THREE YOUNG MEN have appeared in court charged with offences relating to the murder of Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) student Cameron Blair in the city on 16 January last.

Cameron Blair (20) passed away at Cork University Hospital on 16 January after being stabbed in the neck while attending a party on Bandon Road on the southside of Cork city.

At a sitting of Cork Juvenile Court Detective this morning Sergeant Martin Canny gave evidence of the arrest charge and caution of a 14-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons. The teenager made no reply when the charges were put to him after caution.

The youth will go on trial in relation to a charge of violent disorder contrary to Section 15 of the Criminal Justice Act 19. He also faces one count of producing an article capable of inflicting serious harm contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. The alleged offences occurred on Bandon Road in Cork on 16 January last.

Inspector Brian O’Donovan said that the DPP had directed that the case be sent forward for trial at the current sittings of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. He stated that the youth had no objection to the agreed bail conditions. The youth will continue to reside at his home. He will also obey a curfew from 7pm to 7am and sign on daily at his local garda station.

Emma Leahy solicitor made an application for free legal aid which was granted. She said that the matter was serious and required a Senior Counsel. Judge Mary Dorgan granted free legal aid in the case.

Judge Dorgan declined to hear the case of an 18-year-old boy charged with the same offences arising out of his age. She directed that the youth be sent to Cork District Court in Anglesea Street in the city so that the case could be heard in an adult setting. The youth was brought from Washington Street courthouse to Anglesea Street.

Detective Sergeant Canny told Cork District Court that the 18-year-old had been charged with producing a knife and engaging in a violent disorder on 16 January at Bandon Road in Cork city.

In reply to the violent disorder charge where it specified that he engaged with the two co-accused the youth said “I wasn’t in any argument against anyone with (two named co-accused).”

A book of evidence was served on the youth and he was sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Dublin.

Defence solicitor Shane Collins-Daly applied for free legal aid to be extended to a barrister and senior counsel for the trial. Judge Olann Kelleher agreed to the application.

While it is legally permissible to name the 18 year old he is not being named because of the likelihood of identifying his two co accused who are under the age of 18.

Judge Kelleher remanded the youth on bail on condition that he would reside at home, keep a 10pm to 7am curfew and sign daily at his local garda station.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old boy previously charged with the murder of Cameron Blair has been sent forward for trial to the current sittings of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Legal aid was granted in the name of Eddie Burke solicitor after an application was made to Judge Mary Dorgan.

The youth first appeared before Cork District Court in January where he was charged with the murder of Cameron at Bandon Road on the southside of Cork city. He made no reply to the charge of murder was first put to him after caution. The youth will remain in detention in Oberstown until his next court appearance.

Cameron, who was a native of Ballinascarthy in west Cork, was a second year chemical engineering student at CIT.

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