Lyttle brother changes bail condition

An Irish tourist accused of assaulting his brother in Sydney has varied his bail conditions so he can be closer to the hospital where his brother is convalescing.

Barry Lyttle, 33, has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm after he allegedly punched his younger brother Patrick in the head during an argument at Potts Point on January 3.

Patrick allegedly fell onto the footpath in the early hours of the morning at the late night strip.

The 31-year-old was treated at the scene and taken to St Vincent's Hospital in a critical condition.

On Tuesday his lawyer applied for Barry to change his bail conditions so he could be closer to Patrick, who is now convalescing, he said.

Barry's partner has also arrived in Sydney and it was no longer easy for the pair to stay with his aunt in Blacktown in Sydney's west.

He said the defence were anxious to see the CCTV footage from the night of the alleged assault and asked that the prosecution's brief against his client be served by next month.

The prosecution said it would proceed on an indictment, meaning the matter would likely be dealt with in the District Court.

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.

Their father, Oliver Lyttle, had previously told reporters the brothers were close, saying: "They've loved each other since they were kids".

Outside the court on Tuesday, Oliver said Patrick was doing well under medical treatment and was communicating.

The matter will return to court in February.