Cork man charged with shop robbery allegedly told woman he would stab her in the neck

A shop in Cork city centre was robbed at 12pm last Saturday by a man with a knife who told the woman behind the counter: “Open the till or I’m going to stick this in your neck”, it was alleged in the district court on Monday.

As soon as Sergeant John Dineen outlined the principal allegations, Judge David Waters said: “I am refusing jurisdiction.”

The case will have to be dealt with by indictment at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Garda Orla Moriarty charged 36-year-old Darren Rice, of no fixed address, with robbery at Spar, Sullivan’s Quay, Cork, on Saturday, September 12.

Mr Rice indicated that he would not be applying for bail.

The detective was about to enter the witness box to give evidence in her objection to bail being granted to the accused, but Mr Rice indicated that he was not making a bail application.

Sgt Dineen then gave a brief summary of the allegations that a man entered Spar on Sullivan’s Quay just after 12pm on Saturday, ordered the member of staff to open the till or he would “stick this in your neck”, while showing her a knife concealed in the sleeve of his jacket, putting her in fear.

Judge Waters remanded the accused in custody until September 21 and said that he could make a bail application on a future date, on 48 hours’ notice to the State.