Cork man robbed terrified students amid 'chaotic scene' in school locker room, court told

The court heard the the defendant was not making much sense, saying repeatedly, ‘where are the drugs?’

The court heard the defendant 'caught a student by his throat and slapped him against the locker and took his mobile phone'. File picture: Larry Cummins

A Midleton man with a conviction for manslaughter terrified two young students at a secondary school in the area when he robbed them in a locker room and pushed them around violently.

Garda Barry Kilroy testified about the background to the trespass and two robberies committed by Cornelius Horgan at Midleton College at 5.20pm on February 4 this year.

The 43-year-old who was of no fixed address in the Midleton area at the time entered a locker room being used by younger teenage students that afternoon.

“He approached two students and took their phones and wallets and he was very physical with them and put them in fear. He pushed the first student with force. He caught another student by his throat and slapped him against the locker and took his mobile phone. 

“He frisked one of them and shouted at him even when this child was physically upset. He took his Revolut card, his Leap card and left the locker room.

“Vice principal Kevin Stanley followed the accused and contacted gardaí who arrested him in Midleton.

“The two students are too afraid to come to court,” Garda Kilroy said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where Judge Sinead Behan sentenced Mr Horgan to four years in prison.

Cornelius Horgan’s previous convictions include one for manslaughter in April 2010 when he struck the victim across the head with a bottle, causing his death three days later.

'Chaotic'

Marjorie Farrelly, senior counsel, said: “It was a fairly chaotic scene in the school and the defendant was not making much sense, saying repeatedly, ‘where are the drugs?’ He brought his dog in with him. He said he was following his dog. The whole thing was utterly chaotic.

“He was very co-operative at interview and he felt bad for the children. He acknowledged the children were scared and he apologised for scaring them. He was in the grip of polysubstance misuse. He was after taking tablets that day. He apologises to the school and to the children.

“Mr Horgan’s own parents suffered from addictions. He ran away from home at the age of 14. He had a largely homeless lifestyle since.” 

Judge Behan noted from a psychiatric report on the accused that he has “an anti-social personality disorder including a reckless disregard for himself and others.” 

Judge Behan said: 

I have no doubt that the two students found it an absolutely terrifying ordeal. And the parents’ outrage and helplessness is very evident in victim impact reports.

The judge noted that the defendant put his hands on the vice-principal Mr Stanley and was acting in an unpredictable manner. The school has taken new security measures since this occurred.

“I would like to acknowledge the courage of Kevin Stanley the vice-principal who did the best he could in the protection of the children. I think there is great credit due to that gentleman,” Judge Behan said.

A total sentence of five years was imposed on the defendant with the last year suspended.