Man charged with robbing Cork supermarket denied bail
The alleged offence occurred at Herlihy’s Centra, Grand Parade, Cork, last Thursday. File picture Denis Minihane
Gardaí objected to bail being granted to a 37-year-old man charged with carrying out a robbery at Centra on Grand Parade in Cork at 11pm last Thursday.
Matthew Heaphy, whose family came from South Africa to Ireland in 1999, was arrested by Detective Garda Aoife Hayes and brought before Cork District Court.
The alleged offence occurred at Herlihy’s Centra, Grand Parade, Cork. Mr Heaphy was arrested and charged with carrying out a robbery there.
The accused applied for bail and said he would turn up if granted bail and he would not commit any other offence if released.
Sergeant Pat Lyons said to the accused during cross-examination: “The point I have to make is that the only reason you are sitting in that chair is because we put you there. It will be the same if you are granted bail. You won’t turn up and the guards will have to arrest you again.”
The defendant replied if he got bail on strict conditions he would adhere to them.
Sgt Lyons suggested: “While you may have the best of intentions you have no capacity to keep bail.”
Defence solicitor, Eddie Burke, said: “He is very honest about things. He accepts he has an addiction and that things fell down and he wants to address his difficulties.”
The accused said he had been off alcohol but personal problems got on top of him and he picked up a bottle of vodka and drank it.
Judge Mary Dorgan said after hearing he application for bail and the prosecution objection: “The situation is that he is before the court on a count of robbery. I find that taking into account his addiction issue, the seriousness of the charge [and other factors], I have no option but to remand him in custody.”
Mr Heaphy, with an address at Garden Village Drive, Kilpedder, Co Wicklow, was remanded in custody until March 11 at Cork District Court.
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