Corkman facing charges of robbery and having heroin for sale denied bail

Cork District Court heard the man was allegedly caught red-handed with the stash of heroin when taken into custody to a garda station on Tuesday.

A man facing a charge arising of a knifepoint robbery at a shop and another charge of having €5,000 worth of heroin on his person was refused bail on Wednesday at Cork District Court.

Judge Mary Dorgan said the prosecution established its objection to bail based on the seriousness of the charges and that he was allegedly caught red-handed with the stash of heroin when taken into custody to a garda station on Tuesday.

Keith Heaphy was refused bail and remanded in custody until May 29.

The robbery charge dates back to January.

Garda Eoin O’Sullivan testified that 37-year-old Keith Heaphy was allegedly caught with €5,000 worth of Diamorphine heroin at the Bridewell on May 21. It was alleged that he disposed of crack cocaine when he was approached but that he was caught with the stash of heroin.

He was charged with having that drug for the purpose of sale or supply.

Garda O’Sullivan outlined the seriousness of the alleged robbery.

“On January 16 at 9.20pm at O’Keeffe’s shop in St Lukes two men approached. One demanded money from a member of staff behind the counter and produced a large kitchen knife. A second man stood at the door as €400 was robbed,” Garda O’Sullivan.

It was alleged that Keith Heaphy was the second man standing at the door while this was happening. Garda O’Sullivan said that when questioned by gardaí, Keith Heaphy told them he was addicted to crack cocaine.

When Keith Heaphy got into the witness box at Cork District Court to give evidence, Sergeant John Kelleher asked him if he was aware of the principle of joint enterprise where both parties could be deemed to be involved in carrying out the same crime even when they played different parts in it.

Mr Heaphy said he understood that but later adde:, “I didn’t do anything — just holding the door, that was it.” 

The 37-year-old whose address was given in evidence as Barrett’s Buildings, Blarney Street, Cork, was remanded in custody for a week on the robbery and drug-dealing charges.

Directions in the cases will have to be given by the Director of Public Prosecutions.