Cork garda had never seen violence before like that between two teenagers in city, court told

The two teenagers were stabbing each other with a knife and a broken bottle as shoppers went about their day on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork

Det. Sgt Greenway said: 'It was a very serious incident and it occurred at Oliver Plunkett Street just before 6.30pm and it involved the accused and three juveniles.' File picture: Larry Cummins

An experienced detective said he had never encountered anything like the violence of two teenagers stabbing each other with a knife and a broken bottle as shoppers were going about their day on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork.

Detective Sergeant Colin Greenway gave evidence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court about the violent incident which occurred on April 3, 2024. Samuel Ekpemoga of St. Patrick’s Terrace, Gerald Griffin Street, Cork, was 18 at the time and he faces sentencing for his part in this incident, namely on counts of assault causing harm and engaging in a violent disorder where members of the public would have feared for their safety.

Samuel Ekpemoga who is now 20 was remanded in custody by Judge Helen Boyle for sentencing on March 6.

Det. Sgt Greenway said: “It was a very serious incident and it occurred at Oliver Plunkett Street just before 6.30pm and it involved the accused and three juveniles. The injured party was 16 and he was stabbed in the head with a broken bottle.” 

The defendant and a young teenager were standing in a doorway at Casey’s Furniture when there was a dispute with two other youths about an earlier assault. The injured party made various efforts to stab Samuel Ekpemoga with a knife. 

The defendant was sliced across the left hand. The youth with the defendant handed him a broken bottle and he carried out the assault on the teenager with the knife.

“It was a particularly violent incident. It is not something I have ever seen before on Oliver Plunkett Street,” Det. Sgt. Greenway said.

Defence barrister Alan O’Dwyer said Samuel Ekpemoga was heavily intoxicated at the time but acknowledged that it was something which should never have happened in the first place. He said the defendant had apologised in person to the injured party since.

Drug conviction

Samuel Ekpemoga also faces sentencing on Friday for having €17,900 worth of cannabis on September 17, 2024, at Mallow train station.

Detective Garda Aidan Long said gardaí were on duty at Mallow train station when the Dublin to Cork train pulled in at around 6pm. They entered the train and there was a strong smell of cannabis.

The defendant and a younger teenager were sitting in a carriage and Det. Garda Long approached and saw a Dell computer bag on the seat. There was also a green Dealz shopping bag that the two youths were pushing under the seat.

“I sat down opposite them. I informed them of a strong smell of cannabis. And informed them of our intention to search them. I took one of the bags and found two cannabis bags inside,” Det. Garda Long said.

The cannabis had a street value of €17,900. In analysis of CCTV from Heuston station in Dublin and on to streets in the city, the defendant and the juvenile could be seen collecting the package in Dublin city. 

The total time spent by the two youths in Dublin amounted to one hour and 36 minutes. The accused said he was homeless at that time and living in a container in Blackrock in Cork.

Jane Hyland, defence senior counsel for the drugs case, said the young man now had an understanding of the impact of his offending on other people.