Violent robberies ‘epidemic’: Judge

Violent street robberies have reached epidemic proportions, a judge said yesterday.

Judge Séan Ó Donnabháin made the comment as a 23-year-old man pleaded guilty to carrying out a robbery from another young man at South Terrace in Cork City, and a related offence of assault causing harm.

Evan Fray, of Glenfields Park, Ballyvolane, Cork, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

His barrister, Gareth Fleming, asked for the case to be adjourned for a probation report to be prepared on the defendant’s background. He applied to have the accused remanded on bail until a date in April.

But, at that stage, Judge Ó Donnabháin made his comments about certain types of crime in Cork City.

“The indications for a custodial sentence would be very high. I will remand in custody to the end of term (February 26) for a probation report.

“I am of the opinion this type of robbery in the city is epidemic and I have to take particular steps in relation to it,” he said.

The judge remanded the accused in custody for the next two weeks so that a probation report and a victim impact report could be prepared.