Intruders warned students they would chop off fingers unless they handed over drugs and cash

Olivia Kelleher

Two students who were held at knifepoint by intruders who burst into their home were warned that they would have their fingers chopped off unless they handed over cocaine and cash, a court has heard.

Martin Ekhosuehi (23) appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing, having previously been convicted by a jury of aggravated burglary, two counts of assault causing harm, and two counts of making threats to kill or cause serious injuries.

It followed an incident on July 2nd, 2023 when Ekhosuehi of Willow Gardens, Glanmire, Co Cork, and his accomplice used force to make their way in the front door of a house at Highfield Avenue in College Road in Cork city.

Detective Garda Eoghan O’Callaghan said that the offence occurred at around 7pm. He stated that the two male occupants of the house told gardaí that the two intruders had made demands for money and cocaine.

“Both were demanding money. They then proceeded to ransack the house, demanding to know where cocaine and cash were located.

“They (the two young men) were held at knifepoint and instructed to assist in the search. They got numerous punches to the head.”

The garda said that the two men “repeatedly told (the intruders) that they didn’t have drugs.”

One of the intruders was wearing a black tracksuit and a black ski mask. He was armed with a large knife with a black handle. The second man was also dressed in a black tracksuit. He was carrying a backpack and had a flathead screwdriver.

The court heard that the second intruder was never identified. One of the men told the occupants of the house that he would cut their fingers off.

The garda said that the men took a small sum of cash and two phones from the property before running out the back door.

A glove was left behind at the scene. It was forensically examined and was found to have a fingerprint matching that of Ekhosuehi.

One of the students was on the phone to his girlfriend when the intruders broke in. She rang the Gardaí amid concern about the sudden noise in the house and the fact that her boyfriend had abruptly hung up.

Gardaí went to the property. They shouted in the letterbox. The two occupants of the house were warned that they would lose their lives if they engaged with the gardaí.

The two men subsequently raised the alarm themselves after the burglars had fled the scene.  When gardaí arrived at the house, they noted that the men had sustained cuts to their faces.

Det Garda O’Callaghan said that Ekhosuehi was without guilt or remorse for putting the students “in genuine fear for their lives.”

CCTV footage was harvested from the area. It showed two suspects on foot locally at around 7.19 pm. One of the gardaí involved in the investigation was able to identify Ekhosuehi.

In a victim impact statement, one of the young men said that he genuinely believed that he would not survive the incident. He sustained nerve damage to his face after being punched many times. He no longer “feels safe” at home and is “anxious” in public.

The other injured party said that he moved out of the house following the incident. He suffers from anxiety — particularly in social situations. He said that he often lies awake in bed listening to any “bumps in the night.”

Judge Sinead Behan remanded Ekhosuehi in custody for sentencing on Wednesday, March 14th. He has 14 previous convictions.