Cork court hears of struggle between man and shop assistant over bottle of Southern Comfort

The accused was remanded in custody with consent to High Court bail

The alleged incident is said to have happened at Tesco Express on South Main Street, Cork, on January 27. File picture

A bottle of Southern Comfort was at the centre of an alleged incident where a shop assistant tried to hold on to it while a man at the counter pulled it from her hands.

This was the scenario described by Sergeant John Kelleher at Cork District Court in the case against 41-year-old Michael O’Connor of no fixed address who was remanded in custody with consent to High Court bail.

Judge Mary Dorgan heard an outline of the allegations in the case and accepted jurisdiction before adjourning the case until April 13.

Sgt Kelleher said the DPP also accepted summary jurisdiction for the case to be dealt with at district court level.

Sergeant John Kelleher alleged that the incident at Tesco Express on South Main Street, Cork, occurred on January 27 when a man entered the premises and asked for a bottle of Southern Comfort.

The woman behind the counter got the bottle, scanned it and held onto it while asking for payment.

“The male reached over the counter and grabbed the bottle from her hand. She then grabbed hold of it with both hands. He kept pulling the bottle. 

"The staff member released the bottle as she was frightened as to what might happen if she didn’t leave it go. He then left the store and was arrested afterwards,” Sgt Kelleher said.

The charge faced by the defendant is one of theft.