ASSAULT CHARGES | 

Man denies biting woman’s hand during row on Dublin city-centre street

Mr Di Stefano, of North Circular Road, Dublin, is charged with assault causing harm to a woman at Parnell Street on May 1 this year.

Today at 07:29

A man has been accused of biting into a woman’s hand, causing her to bleed in an alleged dispute on a street in Dublin city centre.

Michele Di Stefano (39) had his case adjourned when he appeared in Dublin District Court over the alleged incident.

Mr Di Stefano, of North Circular Road, Dublin, is charged with assault causing harm to a woman at Parnell Street on May 1 this year.

Garda Sergeant Máire McDevitt told Judge Bryan Smyth the DPP was consenting to the case being dealt within the District Court, subject to the judge considering the issue of jurisdiction.

She said it was alleged the accused and woman were in an altercation on the day and the woman had blood on her left hand.

She was struggling with the accused and blood was also coming from her mouth and lips, the sergeant said.

It was alleged the woman had become involved in a dispute and the accused bit her, breaking the skin and causing her to bleed.

Her hand was bandaged but the alleged injury was superficial; she received no treatment for it and there was no medical report.

Judge Smyth accepted jurisdiction, allowing the case to remain in the District Court.

The accused’s lawyer asked for an adjournment to take instructions from the accused.

Sgt McDevitt said a summary of the evidence had already been disclosed to the defence and there was no CCTV. Judge Smyth adjourned the case and said an Italian interpreter should be present on the next date.​​​​​​​