Shoppers and staff were left shocked following a brutal attack at a Cork supermarket today where a group of hooded men entered the store with weapons, starting an altercation which eventually led out into the car park.
A video shared widely on social media shows a scuffle involving a small group of men armed with blunt instruments. The altercation sees one individual taking cover behind the tills while a pair of men swing their weapons at them, causing damage to the shop in the process.
The group is then ushered out into the car park by security, and the altercation continues. In footage seen by CorkBeo several young men are seen running around the car park as another individual gets behind the wheel of a flatbed truck.
The footage shows the truck rapidly accelerating across the car park, narrowly missing one of the men before slamming into a parked vehicle. After crashing, the driver is set upon by one of the men in the car park, and they can be seen striking the driver through the open window.
Commenting on the incident, a Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí were alerted to reports of a disturbance that occurred at a shopping centre in Hollyhill, Cork this afternoon Monday 6th January, 2025.
“At approximately 4.30pm, Gardaí attended the scene where a large number of persons had gathered and brought the matter under control. Investigations are ongoing.”
This recent attack has been condemned by Cork North Central TDs Thomas Gould and Ken O’Flynn, who have called on the government to provide more Gardaí for Cork to help deal with these sorts of incidents.
Deputy Gould said: “The attack was a shocking and frightening ordeal for customers and staff; it’s a terrifying thing to see happening.
“It’s a shame as SuperValu Hollyhill are brilliant supporters of the northside. They sponsor many local clubs, community organisations and schools. Residents are always happy to give back to them as despite being a large supermarket, they’re really at the heart of the community here on the northside.”
The Sinn Féin TD says he’s been contacted by serval people over the Christmas period who have seen Armed Gardaí called out to respond to similarly violent incidents.
He continued: “It has to be asked, are arrests being made? What is being done? The fact they attacked in broad daylight today shows there’s no fear of Gardaí and that those responsible have no fear of being caught. Sinn Féin has continually called for more Gardaí and more resources to tackle this kind of serious criminality.
“Much of the violence is coming from people outside of the community while decent, hard-working people are trying to get on with their lives. It brings a negative image to a great community, and it shows how badly we need more Gardaí.”
Fellow TD and Independent Ireland representative Ken O’Flynn also condemned the attack.
Deputy O’Flynn said: “I am saddened and appalled by the active violence and vandalism that occurred today at the Supervalu on the north side of the city.
“This supermarket has long been a vital part of our community, consistently supporting local sports and arts organizations, and its positive impact cannot be overstated. The recent incidents of antisocial behaviour are not only unacceptable but serve as an indicator of a troubling trend that appears to be becoming the norm in our society.
“Over the past few weeks, I have witnessed and received multiple reports of shocking acts of antisocial behaviour across various parts of the city—north, south, east, and west. This escalating situation underscores the urgent necessity for increased community safety measures.
“We must advocate for more boots on the ground and improved resources to combat crime effectively. It is imperative that we adopt far tougher measures when addressing antisocial behaviour and teenage crime.”
The newly elected TD has called for parents to play a greater role in tackling crime among youths and advocated for providing community services to help keep young people out of trouble and give them a constructive outlet to express themselves.
He said: “As a society, we must ask ourselves difficult questions, particularly as parents: Do you know where your children are tonight? While no parent intends for their child to engage in wrongdoing, there comes a time when it is essential for parents to assume responsibility.
“If we, as a community, cannot foster positive behaviour among our youth, then government intervention may be unavoidable. This could include implementing significant fines directly deducted from salaries to deter such behaviour.
“Moreover, we must not overlook the importance of providing constructive outlets for our youth. We need to find resources within our local communities to engage and occupy idle hands, steering them towards positive and productive activities.
“It is time for us to unite as a community to address these pressing issues and ensure that our local spaces, like Supervalu, remain safe and welcoming for everyone.”