Man jailed for threatening to chop students' fingers off during robbery in Cork

Judge Sinéad Behan imposed a sentence of 11 years with the last two years suspended on 23-year-old Martin Ekhosuehi of Willow Gardens, Brooklodge, Glanmire, County Cork, at Cork at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. File picture: Dan Linehan

Two students were threatened by two intruders armed with a knife and screwdriver that their fingers would be chopped off if they did not hand over cash and drugs, and on Wednesday one of the raiders was sentenced to nine years in jail.

The judge said the students’ one-hour ordeal must have felt like an eternity.

Judge Sinéad Behan imposed a sentence of 11 years with the last two years suspended on 23-year-old Martin Ekhosuehi of Willow Gardens, Brooklodge, Glanmire, County Cork, at Cork at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

“This was an extremely traumatic incident which was prolonged. These two students were in fear for their lives. One young man was intimidated, assaulted and threats were made against his life and body in a place he called home… 

"He heard the accused sigh and tut and shake his head during his evidence as if he was lying about one of the worst days of his life,” Judge Behan said.

The second student similarly said his sense of personal safety had been damaged and that the experience had entered his peace of mind.

“This is a very serious case… The injured parties felt their lives were in danger… The accused had planned and premeditated this crime and did so in a manner where they (the accused and his unidentified accomplice) dressed to conceal their identity. 

"They came with a purpose. The hour must have felt like an eternity. I have not had any indication of remorse or empathy with the victims,” Judge Behan said.

Detective Garda Eoghain O’Callaghan originally charged Martin Ekhosuehi of Willow Gardens, Brooklodge, Glanmire, County Cork, with aggravated burglary at Highfield Avenue, College Road, Cork, two counts of assault causing harm and two more of making threats to kill or cause serious injury.

Summary of evidence

The accused man was convicted by a jury on those counts at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Det. Garda O’Callaghan summarised the evidence against the 22-year-old.

He said: “At 7pm on July 2, 2023, two young men at Highfield Avenue, College Road, Cork, had to run to a neighbour’s house to raise the alarm. They said two men had come through the front door by force.

“One of them was wearing an all-black tracksuit, black ski-mask, blue latex gloves and had a large chef’s knife with black handle. The second man was also wearing a black tracksuit, black gloves and had a flathead screwdriver and was carrying a backpack.

“Both were demanding money. They then proceeded to ransack the house, demanding to know where cocaine and cash were located.

“They were held at knifepoint and instructed to assist in the search. They got numerous punches to the head.

“One of them threatened both men saying he would start cutting their fingers off.

“They took €30 in cash and took the phones from them. Both fled by the backdoor of the property. A glove was left behind and was forensically examined and found to have a fingerprint matching Martin Ekhosuehi. He was also nominated as a suspect by two gardaí who examined CCTV.” 

One of the victims was on the phone to his girlfriend in Drogheda when the raid occurred. This young woman became so concerned by background sounds and the sudden ending of the phone call that she alerted gardaí to come to the property.

Gardaí arrived a short time later and knocked at the door and announced their presence by shouting through the letterbox. But inside, the two students were being warned that they would be killed if they tried to call out or answer the door.

When the two intruders later left the premises the gardaí were called again. They arrived to find the two students visibly shaken and with cuts to their faces. 

Both students described being punched in the face. One of them had his glasses broken. They were repeatedly threatened that they would be killed and they feared for their safety.

'No remorse'

One raider said: “I will start cutting off fingers, on my mother’s life, if I don’t start finding something soon.” 

Det. Garda O’Callaghan said of Martin Ekhosuehi: “At interview he made no admissions for his part in this heinous incident. He showed no remorse or regard for the victims. He had a complete lack of consideration. 

"When the victims were giving evidence he was tutting and shaking his head during the trial. The victims were in genuine fear for their lives.” 

The defendant’s previous 14 convictions included three for having drugs for his own use, one for drug-dealing, one for money-laundering, two for possession of knives and one for production of an article in the course of a dispute.