Case against Cork man accused of threatening Dunnes Stores worker with knife must 'be given priority'

Cork District Court had previously heard that the defendant 'wants to harm shop assistants'

The alleged incident occurred at Dunnes in Merchants Quay occurred at lunchtime on Tuesday, May 5. File picture

The case against a 39-year-old man accused of producing a large kitchen knife to a Dunnes Stores staff member during a robbery, needs to be given priority, a judge said at Cork District Court.

Judge David Waters refused jurisdiction in the case previously and has now said: “There seems to be a lot of to-ing and fro-ing. This is a matter that needs to be given priority.” 

Donal Burleigh was remanded in continuing custody until October 15 by Judge Waters on the application of Sergeant David Fleming at Cork District Court.

The judge was told that the accused was refused bail at the district court previously and was also refused bail when he appealed the decision to the High Court in Dublin.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the issue of the defendant’s fitness to plead would have to be addressed in court. However, Judge Waters said that as this case was going to be dealt with by indictment: “Only the circuit court can decide the issue of whether he is fit to plead.” 

Garda Thomas Enright gave evidence in the objection to bail being granted to the accused and said that when arrested and interviewed the 39-year-old told gardaí of other crimes he planned to carry out on the day of this attempted robbery in Merchants Quay.

“He made full admissions to threatening the member of staff and he told me it is in his head a long time — that he wants to harm shop assistants and that after he left he was going to get on the 202 bus and go to Mahon Point to rob Curry’s and Tesco.

“He was caught red-handed. CCTV shows him committing the act. And he said he fully intends to commit robberies and cause harm to people working in shops.

“The gardaí have a strong belief that if given bail, there is a serious danger to members of the public, in particular shop workers,” Garda Enright said.

The alleged incident occurred at Dunnes in Merchants Quay occurred at lunchtime on Tuesday, May 5, and Donal Burleigh was arrested on that day.

The 39-year-old, with an address at Coppinger’s Acre, Bantry Park Road, Fair Hill, will appear before the court by video link from prison on October 17.