A Northern Irish tourist charged with a one-punch attack that critically injured his brother has been granted bail on the condition he stay away from his brother after drinking.
Barry Lyttle, 33, faced court charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm after allegedly assaulting his brother Patrick Lyttle, 31, in Sydney on Saturday.
Patrick (L) and Barry Lyttle, from Northern Ireland, had met up in Australia days before the alleged assault. Facebook: Barry Lyttle
Police alleged the pair had been drinking in Kings Cross at about 3:00am (AEDT) when they began to argue.
Barry allegedly punched Patrick in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the footpath.
In Central Local Court, Barry was granted bail on the condition he surrender his passport, provide $2,000 surety and not approach his brother within 12 hours of consuming alcohol.
Barry was supported in court by his father, Oliver Lyttle, and aunt.
Barry and his father Oliver during the proceedings. Via Twitter.
Outside court, Oliver said he was grateful for the support his family had received.
“They have loved each other from when they were kids…It’s great that he [Barry] is out,” he said.
“I want to thank everybody for the way things went and for the sympathy.”
Patrick had been travelling around Australia since June and was met by his brother and father in Sydney just four days before the incident.
Ambulance officers treated Patrick Lyttle at the scene before he underwent surgery in hospital. Taken from ABC News.
After the alleged assault, he was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital with critical head injuries.
He underwent emergency surgery to remove part of his skull in order to release pressure on his brain.
He remains in a critical but stable condition.
Barry cried during his court appearance on Monday and his lawyer, Chris Watson, indicated that he was devastated and wanted to spend most of his time by his brother’s bed in hospital while out on bail.
“[They] are very close and [he] is very distressed,” Mr Watson said.
Barry will reappear in court on January 20.
This is an edited version of a story that appeared on ABC News, and has been republished with full permission.
Top Comments
I shuddered when I heard about this as this could be my family but for the Grace of God.
I have two sons who cannot be in the same room as each other & the violence that follows when they are together has made me physically ill with worry.
My biggest fear is that something like this will happen.
I am all but estranged from both because they feel I should choose one over the other & I can't. I love them equally.
Granted these boys appeared to have a good relationship but if I could beg young men to think about one thing then make that thought your family.
I have two brothers that hate each other, and I always fear a situation like this at family functions.
May this be a lesson to anyone who is thinking of getting blind drunk!
Firstly, most people are quite capable of getting drunk without resorting to punching others in the head and secondly he was breath tested and recorded a fairly low range reading of .079 so alcohol wasn't a major factor.
And a lesson for all those people who want another baby just so their oldest has a 'friend for life'.
He wasn't blind drunk. Police said excessive alcohol wasn't a factor.