An Irish tourist has gone directly from court to hospital where the younger brother he's accused of assaulting during a late-night argument remains in a critical condition.
Barry Lyttle, 33, hugged his emotional father, Oliver, when he walked from Sydney's Central Local Court on Monday 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.
The brothers, Mr Lyttle said, were close.
"They've loved each other since they were kids," he said.
It's alleged Barry punched his brother Patrick, 31, during an argument at Potts Point in the early hours of Saturday morning, causing him to fall onto the footpath.
Patrick was treated at the scene and was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.
Bail was not opposed by the prosecution and was granted by Magistrate Les Mabbutt with conditions including the posting of a $2000 surety and an order which prevents Barry from contacting or approaching his brother within 12 hours of drinking alcohol.
He was also ordered to surrender his passport, stay away from airports, live with his aunt in Blacktown and report daily to police.
Barry arrived in Australia on a tourist visa on December 29 and it's believed he and his father had come to visit Patrick, who landed in Sydney in June with plans to travel the country.
Barry Lyttle is due to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on January 20.
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