Man who carried out robbery with large kitchen knife at Cork shop jailed

A 36-year-old man accused of carrying out a robbery while armed with a large kitchen knife and wearing a balaclava was jailed for two years.

Bernard Horgan was sentenced to three and a half years with the last 18 months suspended by Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Garda Killian O’Connell said the raider was carrying a large kitchen knife and told the man working behind the counter to open the till.

In fear of the weapon, the shop assistant opened the till, and Horgan reached in and grabbed €280 cash. 

This was the scene at the Unity shop at Lower Glanmire Road in Cork on Sunday afternoon November 26 2023.

“He grabbed notes only and made good his escape,” Garda O’Connell said.

However, there was no attempt to conceal his identity and he was easily found in an intoxicated condition 30 minutes later not far from where the robbery was carried out. The money he robbed was in his pocket.

When Bernard Horgan of Cork Simon Community sought bail when the case first came before the courts he said, “When I went into the shop, all I said was open the till. I had the knife in my hand. I did not threaten him or anything.” 

Now at his sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, defence barrister Paula McCarty said, “He was caught a short distance away 30 minutes later. He had a very poor recollection but took full responsibility for his actions. He expressed remorse for his actions. He followed that up with a signed plea of guilty.

“He has a long history of alcohol abuse and homelessness. There was a knife produced. Thankfully, he did not use the knife.” Garda O’Connell agreed, “There was no violence but he (the shop assistant) was put in fear.”