Woman jailed for her part in robbery at Cork filling station

A young woman who played a part in a crime, during which a panic alarm was set off by staff at the Top Oil station in Cork’s Ballyvolane after the premises was robbed by two people, has been jailed for eight months.

The DPP directed that the case could be dealt with at Cork District Court, rather than at the circuit court, but only on a plea of guilty.

Judge David Waters agreed with that, but said that if any aggravating factor edged it closer to circuit court jurisdiction, it was that families were present in the shop and staff were entitled to feel secure.

Kelsie Flynn, aged 27, of Cork Simon Community, pleaded guilty to her part in the robbery, when she appeared by video link from prison.

Sgt John Dineen said that victim-impact statements were not given.

Sgt Dineen said that on Tuesday, April 14, Flynn and a man entered Top Oil, Ballyvolane, Cork, at 7.30am and that Flynn picked a number of items from the shelves and concealed them in a bag, before attempting to leave the store without paying

“Kelsie Flynn was confronted by staff and then became violent towards them, lashing out at them, throwing punches, and making threats towards them, putting them in fear,” said Sgt Dineen.

“Kelsie Flynn left the store with a number of items and staff were able to close the door.

“Kelsie Flynn then left, but first selected a number of bunches of flowers from the garage forecourt and left without making payment for these or the items she had concealed.”

Staff were in fear of the man who was with Flynn as she took a box of Persil washing tablets and he took a box of Reese’s chocolate.

“When the two exited the store, staff were so afraid they locked the doors, at which point Ms Flynn kicked in the doors, causing damage. She then threw the bin at the door.”

The parties were arrested nearby, shortly afterwards, by Garda Conor Smiddy.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the defendant and her accomplice intended to shoplift.

Mr Buttimer said: “What elevates its status to robbery was the intervention of a staff member to prevent an act of theft.

“Because of that intervention and the demand to return the items, there was then the non-agreement to return them. That is the event which elevated it from an act of theft to an act of robbery.

“Her background is challenging, in terms of substance difficulties. All of her offending would have a background in the drug sub-culture.

“I have seen her looking terribly unhealthy due to drug abuse. She has had access to rehabilitation in prison. She is sorry for her conduct.”

Sgt Dineen said the defendant had 40 previous convictions for theft, among her total convictions, which number over 100. She has one previous conviction for robbery.