Volunteer at Cork Penny Dinners ‘shaken to core’ by threat to kill her

A woman serving lunches at Cork Penny Dinners described being shaken to the core by an icy, menacing threat to track her down and kill her, and now the man who issued this chilling threat has been jailed for two years.

“The moment I heard his icy, menacing words, filled with violent intent, I was shaken to my core,” said the victim in her impact statement. 

“When he threatened to kill me and said he would carry out his threat no matter how long it took, I did not doubt for a single moment that he meant it. The cold certainty in his voice convinced me that this was not an empty threat, but a very real danger to my life.

“I was overwhelmed by a chilling fear, as though my safety had been stolen from me.”

Flavio Andrade, aged 33, of Shamrock Place, College Rd, Cork, was sentenced to two years and eight months with the last eight months suspended by Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Aggressive

Detective Sergeant Niall Hayes said that while the injured party was serving lunch to Andrade he became extremely aggressive, pointing his finger in her direction and saying that he was going to kill her. 

The detective sergeant said that the wording of the threat was: “I’ll kill you, I can kill you anytime. I’m ex-military so I can kill you anytime.” 

He said that the accused added: “I’ll track you down. I will find where you live. And if I go to Portugal for 15 years and come back I will still track you down. You will be no more.”

Barrister Elaine Audley said that Andrade pleaded guilty to making the threat at around lunchtime on May 1, 2022, at Penny Dinners on Little Hanover St, Cork.

Petrified

The victim said: “It was the first time anyone had truly petrified me, and for a long period afterwards, I struggled to feel safe at all. That lingering vulnerability was suffocating, darkening my days and nights and stealing my peace. This was a horrifying experience. My family fretted over me deeply and continue to do so, always reminding me to stay safe.

“Their concern is a constant reminder of how much this has affected not only me, but those closest to me as well.

“Throughout this ordeal, the gardaí were a source of professional kindness and support, which meant a great deal to me. My fellow volunteers also showed extraordinary compassion, recognising my anguish and standing with me during those very dark moments. Their empathy brought me immense comfort.

“This threat has left a lasting scar on my heart and mind. It has changed me profoundly, serving as a painful reminder that safety can be taken away in an instant. I share this in the hope that my experience is understood and that my pain is heard.”