Man remanded in custody over 1996 Cork post office robbery

A 42-year-old man has been remanded in custody after he was charged in connection with an armed robbery on a post office in Cork city almost 20 years ago.

Christopher Keohane was brought before Cork District Court in connection with an armed raid on Bandon Road Post Office in Cork on November 15th 1996.

Mr Keohane was charged with robbing IR£78,960.11 - the equivalent of €100,279 euros - from the post office contrary to Section 23 of the Larceny Act 1916.

Mr Keohane was also charged with possessing a Luigi Franchi shotgun and two shotgun cartridges on the same occasion contrary to Section 15 of the Firearms Act 1923.

He was charged with a third unrelated matter of escaping from custody from Cork Regional Hospital as it was then, now Cork University Hospital, on June 20th 1999.

Mr Keohane, with an address at Salisbury Walk, London, but formerly of the Crescent, Curaheen Estate, Cork was extradited back to Cork on a European Arrest Warrant.

Det Garda Padraig Harrington gave evidence of arresting Mr Keohane at Cork Airport on September 24th and conveying him to the Bridewell Garda station.

He said Mr Keohane made no reply to the charges.

Insp Billy Duane said gardaí were seeking to have Mr Keohane remanded in custody for service of the book of evidence in the robbery and firearms charges.

Insp Duane said gardaí were awaiting directions from the DPP in relation to the escape charge but he believed they were imminent and a short remand would be sufficient.

Mr Keohane's solicitor, Emmet Boyle said his client was consenting to the remand and Judge Leo Malone remanded him in custody to appear in court again on October 1st.