Rifle-point robbery after chicken baguette row in Cork

A rifle-point robbery at a fast food restaurant was triggered by a row over payment for a chicken baguette.

The culprit, who had called to the fast food outlet looking for the baguette but without money to pay for it, got so annoyed about not getting the food that he went away and returned with an imitation shotgun that looked like the real thing.

Shane Morrissey, aged 30, of 26 Townsend Place, Greenmount, Cork, pleaded guilty to production of an imitation rifle and robbery at Donatello’s Fast Food Restaurant at Tower St in Cork City on May 1.

He was jailed for two and a half years.

Det Garda Gordon Crowley said at 11.20pm on the night, Morrissey ordered the food from the manager who had run the premises for eight years and who knew Morrissey. Among other staff present on the night was a 19-year-old girl who was behind the counter.

Morrissey wanted the baguette without paying for it and said he would pay the following day. The manager explained this was in conflict with company policy and food had to be paid for on the day.

Morrissey said: “I will come back and take money from the till. I have a real gun.”

Twenty minutes later he returned and pointed what appeared to be a real rifle point blank at the teenager and the manager.

Although the young woman managed to get out of the work area she found the experience traumatic and it has made her nervous about the possibility of something like it happening again.

Elizabeth O’Connell, defending, said Morrissey did not hold the rifle for any purpose of intimidation and he used it for hunting rabbits, and that a pellet from the gun would not even kill a rabbit.

CCTV showed that he did not change his clothing and the senior counsel said the accused told them he would be coming back.

“There is no doubt it was precipitated by the chicken baguette,” said Ms O’Connell. Det Garda Crowley agreed this appeared to be so.

“The fact that it started over a chicken baguette, this is an incredibly stupid offence.

The way he went about it did not speak of something other than an intoxicated person and the most stupid scheme he could possibly devise.”