Corkman who broke into Italian restaurant while drunk frightened residents in apartments above

The court heard that gardaí on patrol in the city saw the man at 4am kicking in a door on Princes Street

The burglar has been jailed for six months

Apartment residents were frightened when they heard an intruder rummaging through the Italian restaurant downstairs early in the morning and now the burglar has been jailed for six months.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the crime was committed at Ristorante Rossini on Princes Street, Cork, at around 4am on June 15.

Judge Mary Dorgan jailed Michael Coffey, 54, formerly of Deerpark House, Friars Walk, Cork, for a total of six months.

“On June 15, 2024, gardaí on patrol in the city centre observed a man kicking in a door on Princes Street. He had entered Ristorante Rossini. An occupant of an upstairs bedroom explained that he was not resident there and that he was an intruder.

“There was damage to the door and locks. The witness claimed he was rummaging through items on the floor in the premises. He was arrested and taken to the Bridewell. He stated that he did not remember anything. He said he was too intoxicated and was drinking alcohol excessively the previous day.” 

The same defendant pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening behaviour and being drunk and a source of danger to himself or others at Deerpark House, where he was living at the time.

On February 5 he set off a fire extinguisher on a corridor of the premises.

Frank Buttimer said that from the time of his arrest at the restaurant premises there was a bail objection and he had been in custody since. He indicated immediately his intention to plead guilty.

Alcohol addiction

“He had a residence at Deerpark, He had a problem with depression and lost his place there. He was effectively homeless. The underlying problem is addiction to alcohol and substances. And previously he had educational challenges. He is in pretty poor shape. He will re-engage with services on his release from prison,” Mr Buttimer said.

Judge Dorgan said: “It would be really important that he would re-engage with services.” The judge imposed two months on him for his threatening behaviour during the incident with the fire extinguisher.

As for the burglary of the restaurant: “That matter was messy and I am sure very frightening for the people resident upstairs.” The judge imposed a concurrent six-month sentence on him for that offence.