Man charged with armed robbery of Cork fast food outlet

A man has been remanded in custody after he was charged in connection with an armed robbery at a fast food restaurant in Cork over the weekend.

Shane Morrissey (30) was brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Monday and charged with robbery at Donatello’s fast food restaurant at Tower Street in Cork city on Friday.

Det Garda Gordon Crowley gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court that Mr Morrissey made no reply to the single charge when it was put to him after caution.

Insp Eileen Foster said gardaí were seeking to have Mr Morrissey from Townsend Place in Greenmount remanded in custody and Det Garda Crowley outlined the garda objections to bail.

He said the State would allege Mr Morrissey got into a row with staff at the fast food outlet around 11pm on May 1st and refused to pay for food and threatened to return with a gun.

The State would allege that Mr Morrissey returned 20 minutes later with an air rifle which he pointed at staff before ordering them to hand over money from the till, which they did.

Det Garda Crowley said gardaí were objecting to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence and because they feared Mr Morrissey would interfere with witnesses if granted bail.

He said that Mr Morrissey lived near the fast food outlet and knew the staff, gardaí feared that he would interfere with them if granted bail.

Mr Morrissey gave an undertaking to the court that he would not interfere or approach any witness in the case and would move from his home in Greenmount to reside with a relative in Mahon.

However Judge Olann Kelleher refused Mr Morrissey bail and remanded him in custody to appear in court again on May 6th for the DPP’s directions in the matter. He also granted him free legal aid.