Cork shop workers 'punched, spat at, and verbally abused'

'People have no respect for themselves so they have no respect for anyone else either,' says shop owner

Willie O’Brien, owner of Spar on MacCurtain St, Cork,  was physically and verbally assaulted when trying to stop people stealing from his shop. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Shop workers are being punched, spat at, and verbally abused to such an extent that Perspex barriers erected during the covid pandemic have been left up to protect staff from violence, retailers have said.

Willie O’Brien, owner of Spar on MacCurtain St in Cork city, said he has been physically and verbally assaulted when he has tried to apprehend people stealing from his shop.