Shop worker left terrified by robber armed with machete

Accused remanded in custody at Cork Circuit Criminal Court

The man was charged with carrying out a robbery at a Circle K garage and producing a machete during the robbery.

A man who was never in trouble but who armed himself with a machete and lashed it down on the counter of a garage, terrifying the woman working there, was remanded in custody.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin remanded Jamie Quilligan, aged 24, previously of Chestnut Close, Mahon, Cork, and now living in Glanmire, Cork, in custody until May 17 on the charge of carrying out a robbery at Circle K garage, Blackrock Rd, Cork, at 5.30pm on November 17, 2019, and production of a machete during the robbery.

Detective Garda Seán Stack agreed with a number of propositions by Nikki O’Sullivan, defending, in relation to his absence of previous convictions and the fact that he was desperately trying to clear a drugs debt. However, when Ms O’Sullivan characterised the robbery as “very mad and disorganised”, Det Garda Stack said, “I would not agree”. 

Judge Ó Donnabháin said: “I appreciate it was a first conviction but it was very organised.” 

Remanding the accused in custody until May 17, the judge said that he would consider a report from an addiction counsellor at that stage.

How the crime was committed

Det Garda Stack gave evidence of how the crime was committed.

“On November 17, 2019, he entered the Circle K filling station armed with a machete and he started banging the counter very aggressively with it, putting the lone female behind the counter in fear. He was continuously aggressive,” said Det Garda Stack.

He got away with €400 in cash and a cash register drawer containing another €305. Gardaí were nearby at the time and Quilligan was identified. The defendant left the Circle K on Blackrock Rd and went down by a nearby laneway to the amenity walk where he changed his clothes and hid the proceeds of his crime. He then walked along the Marina.

He was arrested a short time later. In his first interview, he denied everything. In the second, he made some admissions. Finally, in the third interview, he was shown the clothing stashed on the amenity walk and he admitted they were his.

The till and the cash were recovered. Det Garda Stack said everything was recovered apart from the machete. The judge asked the detective, “where did the machete go?” Det Garda Stack replied, “I believe, the river”. 

'Very upset'

The victim impact statement was prepared by the 19-year-old woman who was alone behind the counter when the robbery was carried out. This was not read out in court but the judge said: “This 19-year-old was very upset by this and she cannot understand why it happened. Scared after it happened, she finds it difficult to explain this to herself or anyone else.” 

Ms O’Sullivan said: “He was working in door security prior to this. It was his first offence ever. He did make admissions. During the first interview, he apologised to the young lady.

“He entered a drug treatment programme for two months.” 

Judge Ó Donnabháin noted that the treatment centre was named as the Christian Centre Trust in Tipperary and commented: “It is not redolent with forensic professionalism. He goes for rehabilitation, they go for a walk in The Devil’s Bit, and they come home refreshed.” 

The judge said it was unusual for a young man to get involved in a first instance of criminality at such a serious level.

Ms O’Sullivan said Quilligan had been using drugs and got himself into a debt he was desperate to pay. 

“He was in a very low place and he saw this as his only way out,” she said.