The trial of three men accused of assaulting a Limerick student, who has been paralysed since the attack, began yesterday.
Mr Robert Carlile (21), from Grangewood Court, Douglas; Mr Alan Harte ( 21), from Leamlara Close, Togher; and Mr William St Ledger (20), from Woodview, Pinecroft, Douglas, pleaded not guilty before Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
All three are charged with assault causing serious harm to Mr Denis Franklin from Pallasgreen, Limerick, at the junction of Kifts Lane and Grand Parade in Cork on February 17th, 2002, and of violent disorder on the same occasion.
Prosecuting barrister, Mr Patrick McCarthy SC, told the court in his opening address to the jury of 10 men and two women that the assault on Mr Franklin occurred following an earlier altercation in Kifts Lane.
He said Mr Franklin and a friend, Mr Rory O'Neill, were engaged in fighting with a group in the laneway. Both men left the laneway after the altercation. Mr O'Neill, who he said was the more aggressive of the two, moved across Grand Parade and Mr Franklin moved north towards a takeaway restaurant on the corner of Tuckey Street and Grand Parade.
Mr McCarthy added that Mr Franklin "did not get very far" and it was alleged that he was set upon by a group and beaten.
As this was taking place, Mr O'Neill was also attacked on Grand Parade and was beaten and kicked. He fell to the ground but got up again.
However, the assault on Mr Franklin continued and he was badly injured.
Mr Franklin was seen stumbling towards the roadway where he fell to the ground, bleeding from his nose and ears.
An ambulance was called and Mr McCarthy said paramedics found Mr Franklin in a state of cardiac arrest. Efforts to revive him were "not completely successful" and the former student was left in a "permanent and serious" condition.
The trial continues today.