Derek Lynch wins appeal over post office robbery conviction

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Derek Lynch had his robbery and firearm conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal on 3 March 2016, with a retrial ordered. The case concerned a post office robbery at Friar’s Road Post Office, Turner’s Cross, Cork, on 20 May 2012.

The court ruled that evidence from the Garda Pulse system about the alleged ownership of a motorcycle used in the robbery was hearsay and should not have been admitted. Lynch had previously received a nine-year sentence, with the final year suspended, after pleading not guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The Court of Appeal remanded Lynch on bail, subject to conditions, to Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The report said the robbery involved a firearm and approximately €2,000, but the appeal ruling did not determine the original allegations.