Woman jailed for her part in robbery of petrol station in Cork

The court heard that 'staff were so afraid they locked the doors'

The offence took place at the Top Oil station in Ballyvolane in Cork. File picture: Eddie O'Hare

A panic alarm was set off by staff at the Top Oil station in Ballyvolane in Cork after the premises was robbed by two people and on Monday the woman who played a part in the crime was jailed for eight months.

The DPP directed that the case could be dealt with at Cork District Court rather than at the circuit court but only on a plea of guilty. 

Judge David Waters agreed with that but commented that if there was any aggravating factor that edged it closer to circuit court jurisdiction was the fact that the robbery was carried out in a shop where families who were present and staff working there were entitled to feel secure.

27-year-old Kelsie Flynn of Cork Simon Community pleaded guilty to her part in the robbery when she appeared by video link from prison. Sergeant John Dineen said that victim impact statements were not given in the case.

Sgt Dineen said: “On Tuesday April 14 Kelsie Flynn and a man entered Top Oil, Ballyvolane, Cork, at 7.30am and that she picked a number of items from the shelves and concealed them in a bag before attempting to leave the store without paying for the items.

“Kelsie Flynn was confronted by staff and then became violent towards them lashing out at them, throwing punches and making threats towards them, putting them in fear.

“Kelsie Flynn left the store with a number of items and staff were able to close the door. Kelsie Flynn then left but first selected a number of bunches of flowers from the garage forecourt and left without making payment for these or the items she had concealed.” 

Staff were in fear of the man who was present in the premises with Ms Flynn as she took a box of Persil washing tablets and he took a box of Reese's chocolate from the shop before leaving.

“When the two exited the store, staff were so afraid they locked the doors, at which point Ms Flynn kicked in the doors causing damage, she then threw the bin at the door.” The parties were arrested nearby shortly afterwards by Garda Conor Smiddy.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the defendant and her accomplice had the idea of carrying out a shoplifting offence. “What elevates its status to robbery was the intervention of a staff member to prevent an act of theft,” Mr Buttimer said. 

Because of that intervention and the demand to return the items there was then the non-agreement to return them. That is the event which elevated it from an act of theft to an act of robbery. 

“Her background is challenging in terms of substance difficulties. All of her offending would have a background in the drug sub-culture. I have seen her looking terribly unhealthy due to drug abuse. She has had access to rehabilitation in prison. She is sorry for her conduct,” he said.

Sgt Dineen said the defendant had 40 previous convictions for theft alone, among her total convictions which number over 100. She has one previous conviction for robbery.