A man from Northern Ireland accused of punching his brother and leaving him in a critical condition has been granted bail in a Sydney court.
Barry Lyttle, 33, allegedly punched Patrick Lyttle, 31, during an argument at Potts Point in the early hours of Saturday, causing him to fall back and hit the footpath, police said.
Patrick has had emergency surgery to remove part of his skull in order to release pressure on his brain. He remains in a critical but stable condition in St Vincent’s hospital.
Barry went directly from the court to hospital to visit his brother. He hugged his emotional father, Oliver, after being granted conditional bail during a brief hearing.
Speaking after hearing that Barry would soon be released, Oliver Lyttle said he wanted “to thank everybody for the way things went and their sympathy”.
“My son, I think he’s not great so I’m going to go over [to the hospital],” he told reporters.
Oliver Lyttle said the brothers were close. “They’ve loved each other since they were kids,” he said.
Police alleged the pair had been drinking in Kings Cross about 3am when they began to argue. Paramedics treated Patrick at the scene before taking him to hospital.
As part of his bail conditions, Barry has to live with his aunt in Blacktown, report daily to police, surrender his passport and post a $2000 surety.
He has also been banned from contacting or approaching his younger brother within 12 hours of drinking while on bail.
Barry has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.
The application was not opposed by the prosecution and the magistrate Les Mabbutt said Barry Lyttle’s release from custody did not pose an unacceptable risk.
Barry, who landed in Australia on a tourist visa on 29 December, is due before the Downing Centre local court on 20 January.
The brothers’ father and their aunt were at the Sydney court on Monday.
Patrick has been in Australia since June. His brother and father had travelled from County Antrim to meet him in Sydney just four days before the incident.
