Cork man accused of robbery discarded cash and clothes before jumping into river to escape

Man accused of robbery of €915 at Texaco on Model Farm Rd, Cork

Cork District Court heard a garda jumped into the river and brought the accused back to the riverbank where he arrested him.

A man pursued by gardaí from the scene of a robbery began to discard some of his clothing and some cash and then plunged into a river to escape.

That was the evidence of Detective Garda David Hickey who objected to the application for bail made by Shane O’Donoghue, aged 41, of Leesdale, Model Farm Rd, Cork, on the charge of carrying out the robbery of €915 at Texaco on Model Farm Rd, Cork, on Wednesday, November 5.

Det Garda Hickey told Cork District Court that a member of An Garda Siochána jumped into the river after Mr O’Donoghue and brought him back to the riverbank where he was arrested and later charged.

Det Garda Hickey said a member of staff at the Texaco service station was caught in a chokehold headlock by one raider as a second culprit ripped the till from the counter.

The detective said that when questioned the accused man was cooperative with the investigation: “He identified himself on CCTV as the raider who ripped the till from the wall.” 

Frank Buttimer solicitor said that while DPP directions were not yet available the intention of Shane O’Donoghue is to plead guilty to robbery.

The detective said of the accused: “He did say he left the house that day to get cash. He did say on camera that it was a moment of madness.” 

Mr Buttimer said that no planning was put into what happened.

Shane O’Donoghue said in evidence that before November 5 he had been participating in rehabilitation and doing very. However,he added: “Unfortunately, I took tablets that blindsided me really. I took my eye off the ball and this is what happened. It was going well (before this) — I know it seems like it wasn’t but it was, I was doing well.”

 Judge Dorgan refused bail. On the application of Sergeant John Kelleher, the judge remanded Shane O’Donoghue in custody until December 2.

Co-accused, 44-year-old Mark Sheehan of Hazel Rd, Togher, Cork, was refused bail last week on the same charge of robbery.

The allegation was that at around 8.30pm on November 5, two men entered Texaco Service Station, Model Farm Rd, Cork, went behind the shop counter and demanded that staff to open the tills. One of them grabbed a staff member in a chokehold headlock. The other male ripped the till out and put it into a bag. Both of them then left the store on foot.