Man jailed for armed robbery of Cork City off-licence

The robbery was captured on CCTV, including his escape to the grounds of UCC where he counts out the money

Judge Mary Dorgan said: 'The offence was very serious. I am going to sentence him to 10 months and I will suspend the last two months.' File picture

An eight-month jail term was imposed on a 34-year-old Cork man accused of carrying out an armed and masked raid on an off-licence near his home.

Judge Mary Dorgan said: “This is the gentleman who wore a balaclava and had a knife and took €350 — the offence was very serious. I am going to sentence him to 10 months and I will suspend the last two months.” 

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke for the accused man, Keith Coleman, said at Cork District Court on Monday: “He is doing extremely well in prison. The probation report is comprehensive. He did co-operate and there is a plan laid out for him now.” 

Judge Dorgan said the mitigating factors in favour of the defendant were set out comprehensively in the probation report.

CCTV captured Keith Coleman cycling to the grounds of UCC after the robbery and change his clothes and count the money.

Keith Coleman of 7 St. Finbarr’s Road, off Gillabbey Street, Cork, pleaded guilty to robbery of €350 on January 5, 2023, at the Carry-Out on Gillabbey Street. Detective Garda Lorna Healy objected to bail when the charge against the 34-year-old first came before the court.

Det. Garda Healy said that after 7.30pm on January 5 last year he went to the Carry-Out on Gilabbey Street, Cork, wearing a balaclava, and that he produced a knife, putting a member of staff in fear and demanding cash.

Det. Garda Healy said: “He produced a knife and demanded money putting the member of staff in fear. He got €350 and fled with it.

“The entire robbery is captured on CCTV. He was wearing a balaclava. CCTV shows that he arrives and leaves on a pedal cycle.

“Further CCTV was harvested 500 metres away on the grounds of UCC where he changes his clothes and discards the knife and clothing and leaves on the pedal bike.

“CCTV shows that he enters UCC at Connaught Avenue and on the grounds of UCC where he counts out the money.”