Man jailed for breaking into Cork city flat; co-accused had an axe

An axe was used to smash through the window of an apartment in Sunday’s Well as the resident was watching television. Now one of the men who broke into the apartment has been jailed.

Jake O’Connor, of Glenside, Grange, Cork, was not the man wielding the axe — that was his co-accused — but now he has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, with the last 20 months suspended, by Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The crime was carried out by the 21-year-old and his co-accused on November 27, 2022 at the apartment on Sunday’s Well Road, Cork.

Jeff Hitchmore, defence barrister, said: “Although he did punch the injured party, he was not the one who had the axe. He had a very good upbringing, but has mental-health difficulties and addiction issues.

“He has had numerous admissions for rehabilitation. He has had serious problems with polysubstance misuse.

“He has been associating with persons he shouldn’t be.”

“The probation report is not glowing,” Judge Boyle said in the case, where Mr O’Connor pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, criminal damage, and assault causing harm.

“The aggravating factors are that this was a man sitting in his own sitting room watching television, minding his own business, when you and your co-accused come through the window smashing it with an axe.

“You punched him in the eye. I accept it was your co-accused who had the weapon.

“In terms of mitigating factors, you pleaded guilty, saving the victim the trauma of coming to court. Your family life is now more stable.

“Alcohol is the big problem. You say you have never been arrested, only when you are drunk. That is a clear message for you about what needs to be cut out of your life.

“Unless you take your own recovery seriously, the probation service won’t be able to be of assistance to you.

“Although (the other man) had an axe, I take this as a joint enterprise.”

Mr Hitchmore said that Jake O’Connor had acknowledged that the injured party had not deserved what happened to him.

“He has shown victim empathy. All of his offending occurred in a whirlwind of intoxication,” the barrister said.