Cork man who pleaded guilty to aiding in the commission of robbery jailed

A 33-year-old man accused of taking part in the robbery of €1,700 from a shop in Ballinhassig in 2021 vociferously denied having anything to do with it but he later pleaded guilty to aiding in the commission of the robbery.

Paul Ingle of Aisling Court, Togher, Cork, was three miles away from the scene of the robbery when it occurred but he did play a role in acquiring a car to be used by the two armed raiders after they had driven from the crime scene in another car.

Detective Garda Hugh Byrne gave evidence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court of the fact that there was a robbery on September 9, 2021 at Cottrell’s Gala shop, Ballinhassig, County Cork, where cash of €1,700 was robbed by two men – one of them armed with a shotgun, the other with a machete.

A short time later the getaway car was found on fire a distance away. The two raiders then got into the Kerry-registered Avensis that Paul Ingle had purchased previously using a false name.

While it was emphasised in court that Paul Ingle was not one of the men who carried out the robbery he did procure the car for others knowing it was to be used for “a job”.

He also drove another man to the shop/post office in Ballihassig earlier that day and then drove him from the area.

The robbery was carried out three hours later. Paul Ingle was in Wilton shopping centre when it happened.

Elizabeth O’Connell senior counsel said the role played by Paul Ingle was ancillary to the crime. 

“It was one or two removes from the crime. There was nothing sophisticated about what he did and nothing to protect his identification. I suggest it a low level of culpability.” 

Judge Sinead Behan accepted that the defendant’s own admission to gardaí at interview formed the main evidence against him in a matter that would have been otherwise difficult to prove.

The judge imposed a sentence of three years with the last six months suspended and it was backdated to July 2024 when Paul Ingle went into custody.