Robbery - O’Donovans Off Licence – Blackpool – Cork City on 11/1/23

The Gardaí at Watercourse Road station are investigating a Robbery on Wednesday 11th January 2023, shortly before 5:20pm.  

On the evening in question, a male approached O’Donovans Off Licence on foot and stayed in the proximity of the shop for several minutes.  He then approached the off licence, pulled down a balaclava type face covering and revealed a kitchen knife.  He approached a member of staff and made demands for money.  The suspect took a sum of money from the till and walked out of the business, onto Thomas Davis Street in the direction of Blackpool Shopping Centre.  

The suspect discarded his balaclava in a bush in the Blackpool Shopping Centre.  He then crossed Brother Delaney Road and discarded his black jacket in a bin in an alley way to Blackpool Retail Park. 

The suspect subsequently boarded the 203 bus, from outside Woodies on Brothers Delaney Road and went in the direction of Cork City Centre.  He departed the bus on St Patricks Street, entered a shop and purchased some items and then returned to the bus stop, remaining there for over several minutes.  He then left the area, crossing at St. Patricks Bridge and proceeding along MacCurtain Street eastbound.  He then returned to the City Centre before going onto the Mary Elmes Pedestrian Bridge.  

Description of suspect:

• Male
• Height – 5’8” – 5’10”
• Slim build
• Mid to late twenties
• Irish accent
• Black puffy jacket with no logos or markings on it.
• Black balaclava.
• Black Nike tracksuit bottoms.
• Black runners which had a large white sole and a white marking on the outside heel of both runners. 

Appeal:

• Do you recognise the individual captured on CCTV?
• Were you in the Thomas Davis Street, Blackpool Shopping Centre or Blackpool Retail areas between 5:20pm and 6:00pm on the 11/01/2023.
• Were you at the bus stop on Brother Delaney road next to a Garden Centre, or on the 203 bus that stopped here, heading in the direction of Cork City Centre?
• Were you in the St Patricks Street area and surrounds?
• Did you see a discarded knife?
• Did you see a male matching this description?
• Were you in the area at the time and do you have dashcam footage? 

Gardaí at Watercourse Road Garda Station – Investigating – Tel (021) 4558260