Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 9886Robbery · Co. Longford · 5 Dec 2024

Longford man pleads guilty to supermarket robbery with knife threat

On 5 December 2024 a man, Eric Kearns (30) of Annaly Gardens, entered a supermarket on Athlone Road, Longford, took a box of beer and a box of whiskey worth €42, and allegedly threatened the deputy manager with a knife. Gardaí identified him from CCTV and arrested him at about 11.30am that day, and he was charged with robbery and with producing a knife. At Longford District Court he pleaded guilty to robbing the supermarket and admitted producing a knife, and the judge ordered a community service assessment and adjourned the case. The judge said she would impose 200 hours of community service in place of seven months' imprisonment if Kearns is deemed suitable, and the case is adjourned to 21 July for finalisation.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court29 Apr
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man entered the supermarket alone and took a box of beer and a box of whiskey worth €42, passing all points of payment.
  • The victim was the supermarket's deputy manager, though one headline calls him the store manager.
  • The man allegedly threatened the deputy manager as the manager approached and asked him to stop, saying he would stick the knife into him if he came closer.
Where
The robbery took place at a supermarket on Athlone Road, Longford.
When
The robbery took place on 5 December 2024, when gardaí were alerted at 8am.
Weapon
The man allegedly brandished what resembled a retractable knife, army knife or flick knife in his right hand.
Cause
The defence said Kearns had been going through a difficult break-up and had turned to alcohol.
Investigation
  • The goods were not recovered, and the man had left by the time gardaí arrived.
  • CCTV showed the man with the knife threatening the manager, and gardaí at Annaly Park identified him from it and arrested him at about 11.30am that day.
Charges
Kearns was charged with robbery and with producing a knife in the course of the offence.
In court
  • Kearns pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to robbing the supermarket and admitted producing a knife during a dispute or fight capable of inflicting serious injury.
  • The judge remanded Kearns on continuing bail, directed a community service assessment report, and adjourned the case to 21 July for finalisation.
Sentence
The judge said she would impose 200 hours of community service in lieu of seven months' imprisonment if Kearns is deemed suitable.
Other details
Kearns also admitted a public order breach at Annaly Gardens on 22 December 2023 and has two previous convictions, both for public order breaches.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man entered the supermarket alone, took a box of beer and a box of whiskey worth €42, and passed all points of payment. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe man threatened the deputy manager as the manager approached him and asked him to stop. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe robbery took place at a supermarket on Athlone Road, Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe robbery took place on 5 December 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • weaponThe man brandished what resembled a retractable knife, army knife or flick knife in his right hand. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were alerted at 8am that a robbery had taken place at the supermarket. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe goods were not recovered, and the man had left by the time gardaí arrived. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationCCTV showed the man with the knife threatening the manager. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationLater that day at about 11.30am, gardaí at Annaly Park identified the man from CCTV and arrested him. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí identified the man from CCTV and he was subsequently arrested. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeKearns was charged with robbery and with producing a knife in the course of the offence. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtKearns pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to robbing the supermarket. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge directed that a community service assessment report be compiled on the defendant. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge remanded Kearns on continuing bail. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to 21 July for finalisation. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said she would impose 200 hours of community service in lieu of seven months' imprisonment if Kearns was deemed suitable. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe man allegedly said he would stick the knife into the deputy manager if he came closer. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherKearns also admitted a charge of a public order breach at Annaly Gardens on 22 December 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherKearns had two previous convictions, both for public order breaches. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defence said Kearns had been going through a difficult break-up and had turned to alcohol. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Apr2026
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, first report
    'I’ll stick this into you' Longford man threatened store manager with knife during robbery

    Court report on the guilty plea and sentencing steps. Adds the robbery details, the knife threat, the arrest, the charges, the 200-hour community service option, and the July adjournment.

    convicted, Eric Kearns, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eric Kearnsvictim