Cork man admits producing kitchen knife during robbery at Dunnes Stores in Cork

The man's case was sent forward for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court

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

Signed pleas of guilty were entered on Thursday by a 39-year-old man accused of producing a large kitchen knife to a Dunnes Stores staff member during a robbery.

After Frank Buttimer, solicitor, confirmed at Cork District Court that Donal Burleigh was pleading guilty to the charges, his case was sent forward for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court by Judge David Waters on the application of Sergeant John Dineen. 

Donal Burleigh was remanded in continuing custody.

Garda Thomas Enright gave evidence in the objection to bail being granted to the accused previously 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 at Dunnes in Merchants Quay occurred at lunchtime on Tuesday, May 5, and Donal Burleigh, with an address at Coppinger’s Acre, Bantry Park Road, Fair Hill, was arrested on that day.