Burglary victim admits giving false information to gardaí about incident

The victim of a burglary confessed to making a false statement about aspects of the crime where three masked men armed with a gun and machetes threatened to cut off his legs.

Paul Robert Merrick, of Dunronan, Kilbeg, Bandon, Co Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to a charge of knowingly making a false statement causing the time of An Garda Síochána to be wastefully employed.

Insp Bill Duane said Merrick, aged 23, reported the burglary at St Finbarr’s View, Lough Rd, Cork, on Sept 30, 2012. The inspector said Merrick told gardaí that three males wearing balaclavas and armed with machetes and a handgun entered the house and demanded money.