Pair charged with robberies in which machete was used

Two men have been remanded in custody after being charged in connection with a spate of robberies in Cork City last week in which people were attacked with a machete.

Dean O’Driscoll, aged 24, with an address on Dominic Street, Cork City; and Brian Veale, aged 31, originally from Dungarvan, Co Waterford, but who also gave the same Dominic St address in Cork, were brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Saturday morning.

Sergeant Kieran O’Sullivan told Judge Olann Kelleher that Veale was arrested on Shandon Street at 10.25pm on Thursday last, and was charged on Friday with the robbery of a woman on Dominic Street, on February 26, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act.

He was further charged with the attempted robbery of a man - also on Dominic Street - on the same night.

There was no application for bail but the court was put on notice that a bail application would be made later.

Detective Garda Maurice Hickey told the court that O’Driscoll - who was dressed in a tracksuit - was charged with a single count of robbery from a woman on Gerald Griffin Street on February 22, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act.

He told the court that O’Driscoll replied “sorry” when the charge was put to him.

And Detective Garda Hickey said gardaí were objecting to bail given the seriousness of the alleged offence.

O’Driscoll’s partner, Joanne Kennedy, told Judge Kelleher that she was willing to let her boyfriend stay with her at her apartment in Youghal.

But Judge Kelleher refused bail to the men and remanded both O’Driscoll and Veale in custody and for them to appear again before Cork District Court next Thursday.

Judge Kelleher also directed that both men should receive appropriate medical care while they were in prison.

Veale - who was also dressed in a dark tracksuit - did not speak during the brief court appearance on Saturday.