Arrested man in Cork planned armed raid

Gardaí claimed one of the men arrested following an operation targeting heroin dealers was planning an armed robbery of a rural Cork post office.

Cork City gardaí this week arrested 16 men and 9 women as part of Operation Emerson — an operation based out of Anglesea Street Garda station that saw undercover gardaí target heroin dealers.

The accused yesterday appeared before Judge Olann Kelleher at Cork District Court, where bail was denied to Michael Crinnion, aged 23, of 1, Blackwater Grove, Togher, Cork.

Crinnion was charged with six counts of possessing heroin with intent to sale and supply, and three further counts of possession of the drug. The charges arise from incidences at three locations in the city on February 25, March 10 and May 11 of this year.

Objecting to bail, Detective Sergeant Sean McCarthy told the court Mr Crinnion was arrested following garda investigations as part of Operation Emerson, and that he had sold drugs to an undercover garda.

Det Sgt McCarthy also said gardaí had witnessed Crinnion “observing” three post offices in rural north Cork within a two-hour period last month. Det McCarthy said he believed Crinnion was planning an armed robbery of at least one of these premises, and that the accused would deal drugs if released on bail.

Crinnion’s solicitor Frank Buttimer said that it was “quite remarkable” that Det Sgt McCarthy could claim his client was planning a robbery and base this assertion on Crinnion being seen outside post offices.

“You don’t get up in the morning and decide to do an armed robbery,” Det Sgt McCarthy said.

“Significant preparation goes into an armed robbery,” he told the court, adding that Crinnion’s “general behaviour” while under garda observation also led him to believe he was planning a robbery.

Judge Kelleher said he was not satisfied with Crinnion’s evidence and remanded him in custody to appear again at the district court on June 17. The majority of the other accused were remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Cork District Court on July 8.