Cork man who wielded blood-filled syringe at student and demanded money avoids jail

Court heard the young Indian woman suffered severe anxiety after the incident, compounded by the fact she is alone in Cork without her family

Court heard the defendant was a chronic user of heroin and crack cocaine at the time of the attempted robbery and had no recollection of it. Picture Dan Linehan

A homeless young man held up a blood-filled syringe to threaten an Indian student doing a master’s degree in Cork as she walked from one college building to another.

This happened two years ago, and now at Cork Circuit Criminal Court Judge Helen Boyle has imposed a three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence on 21-year-old Ken O’Sullivan, who is originally from Rylane in Co Cork but was living homeless in Cork City at the time. His only address was at St Vincent’s hostel, Anglesea Terrace, Cork.

He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and threatening to injure with a syringe.

Detective Garda Aoife Hayes said the 23-year-old woman from India travelled to Cork on September 23 to complete her master’s in public health. At midday on February 21,2024, she had just finished attending a lecture held at the distillery building on North Mall and was walking across St Vincent’s footbridge, by the Mercy University Hospital, to attend her next class at the main campus of UCC.

“Ken O’Sullivan was blocking her. He produced a blood-filled syringe and held it up to her, demanding money.

“She could clearly see the needle and blood. In fear, she retreated in the direction of the distillery building and made good her escape to a security hut.

“Ken O’Sullivan fled the scene. CCTV footage was gathered. He could be seen following her, walked behind her, passing her and then blocking her way. He was living in St Vincent’s hostel at the time.

“On March 13, 2024, he was arrested and conveyed to the Bridewell Garda Station where he was detained and interviewed. He made admissions and identified himself on CCTV,” Detective Garda Hayes said.

The Indian student, who is still studying in Cork, was invited to make a victim impact statement but declined to do so. The detective said the young woman suffered severe anxiety compounded by the fact she is alone in Cork without her family and the fact this attempted robbery occurred at midday when she was attending lectures and there were lots of people around.

She saw the syringe and believed it did contain blood, and it also had a long needle attached.

Brian Leahy, barrister, said the defendant was a chronic user of heroin and crack cocaine at the time of this attempted robbery. 

“He was so intoxicated he could not be interviewed on the day of his arrest. There was no violence in his history before this. When shown the video, he admitted it was him but he had no recollection. He felt it was totally out of character for him.

“He is now working and living in supported housing in Eagle Valley in Wilton. There is a supportive letter from his employer. He is contributing to society. He wants to inform the court this [a person carrying out a crime of violence] is not who he is,” Mr Leahy said.