Brendan Cavanagh charged with assaults on stranger and hospital staff member in Sydney’s east

A man has faced court after allegedly assaulting a stranger in Sydney’s east and a hospital staff member in Randwick in separate incidents.

A man will face court after he allegedly assaulted another man in Sydney’s east, he is also accused of damaging property at the Prince of Wales hospital. Picture: Monique Harmer

A man has been charged with assaulting a stranger and a hospital staffer in separate incidents in Sydney’s east.

Brendan Cavanagh, 42, faced Waverley Local Court on Wednesday where he was denied bail over charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault frontline emergency worker – no actual bodily harm, and destroying or damaging property.

Police were first alerted to an assault on a 59-year-old man shortly before 8.30pm on January 3 at a home on Bilga Crescent in Malabar.

Officers were told the man had allegedly been approached by a stranger and struck multiple times in the face.

He was treated by paramedics for facial injuries and taken to Prince of Wales Hospital in a stable condition.

Following inquiries police arrested Cavanagh near Randwick on Tuesday, January 21.

Further inquiries alleged the man was also involved in damaging properties at the Prince of Wales hospital in Randwick Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Further investigations led police to allege he was involved in a separate incident three days after allegedly assaulting a man in Malabar.

Police will allege on January 6, Cavanagh attacked a nurse on shift and “intentionally or recklessly” damaged an air mattress machine at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

He was taken to Maroubra Police Station and charged.

On Wednesday, a Legal Aid solicitor asked the court to consider Cavanagh’s mental health history during his bail application.

Magistrate Michael Barko said he did not have the relevant documents on Cavanagh’s background but stated it was a strong police case and denied bail.

“On the face of it’s a strong prosecution case … an unprovoked attack which led to someone being hospitalised,” he said.

Cavanah, who was seated in the dock, expressed his displeasure.

“Thanks a lot your Honour, I’m gonna miss [a] funeral on the 30th,” he said.

Magistrate Barko responded: “Yes, well I didn’t punch anyone in the face … allegedly.”

Brendan Cavanagh will remain in custody and return to court on February 5.

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