‘I don’t listen to no one but myself,’ Cork teen told garda

A teenager who has been in custody for more than 10 weeks charged with going to the deli counter of a supermarket on his e-scooter and threatening to burn out the manager’s car, said: “I’d like to get it over and done with — I want to be sentenced today.”

Diane Hallahan, solicitor, said at Cork District Court that John Heaphy, aged 18, of 65 An Caisleán Drive, Ballincollig, Co Cork, had mental health issues and was finding his time in custody very difficult.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said directions were not available from the DPP. Judge Mary Dorgan said the defendant could not enter a plea of guilty in the absence of directions.

The teenager then spoke up again on the video link from prison to his solicitor, saying: “Get it struck out, will you.” Ms Hallahan then made that application, which was refused by the judge.

Judge Dorgan remanded him in custody until April 21, but said she would require a progress report in relation to getting DPP directions on that date.

Barred

Detective Garda Bryan English said the teenager was barred from numerous shops in Ballincollig but had repeatedly ignored this and returned to the stores.

The detective said that when interviewed, the teenager was asked about returning to Quish’s SuperValu at Ballincollig despite being barred he told gardaí: “I don’t listen to no one but myself”.

“It is alleged that he was highly abusive to staff. And in relation to the manager he said he would burn out his car and named the make, model and year of the car driven by the manager,” said Det Garda English.

In the particular case before the court it is alleged that he came into the supermarket on his e-scooter and went to the deli counter despite being barred from the shop.

It is alleged that when the manager required him to leave he made the threat about the manager’s car, allegedly saying: “I will burn it out.”

John Heaphy is charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at the SuperValu store on January 26, as well as threatening to cause criminal damage to the car belonging to the manager of the supermarket on the same day.