Man jailed for attempted robbery of off-duty prison officer in Cork city centre

An off-duty prison officer was set upon in a late-night incident in Cork city centre — and now a 51-year-old man was jailed for nine months for attempted robbery.

Jeremiah Foley asked Judge John King, through his solicitor Eddie Burke, to suspend a portion of the sentence. 

Judge King refused this application because of what he described as the recidivist nature of the defendant’s offending.

The judge also noted the traumatic effect that this kind of offence could have on a victim and the fact that Foley’s previous convictions included six robberies.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said the 28-year-old prison officer knew the assailant Jeremiah (Jerry) Foley, although Mr Burke said Foley did not know the injured party and did not know he was a prison officer. 

Mr Burke said that irrespective of that, Foley acknowledged that he should not have behaved in the manner in which he did.

The incident occurred at 1.20am where the prison officer was pushed against a wall, and the defendant forcibly searched his pockets, put him in fear, and took his phone.

Mr Burke said: “He pleaded guilty and apologises. He had no idea who this man was. He should not have behaved in this manner, no matter who he was.

“Alcohol has been a scourge in his life. He never coped with the grief of the loss of a child in an accident. He is not proud of his past. He has on occasions tried to sort out his difficulties with alcohol but possibly slips due to homelessness.” 

 Foley, with an address at 12 Castlepark, Ballincollig, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to the charge of attempted robbery on August 31, 2025, at Tobin St, Cork.

Sgt Murphy said he has 32 previous convictions, including six for robbery, two for burglary and 48 for theft.

Detective Garda Orla Moriarty testified at Cork District Court that the injured party hoped that telling the assailant that he was a prison officer would deter him from his actions but unfortunately it did not have any deterrent effect. 

“He was looking for the injured party’s phone and wallet. He (the injured party) told him he was an off-duty prison officer hoping this would deter him but it did not have the desired effect,” Det Garda Moriarty said.