Customers complained that the smell made it hard to breathe
09:17, 02 Jan 2026Updated 09:24, 02 Jan 2026
Dunnes Stores in Ballyvolane
A man was arrested and a busy Cork city shopping centre was evacuated after a powerful, foul-smelling spray was set off in the premises yesterday.
The incident occurred on New Year’s Day in the Ballyvolane Dunnes Stores at approximately 2pm near the premises’ café. The pungent odour was picked up almost instantly by nearby shoppers, some of whom started complaining that the smell made it hard to breathe.
Gardaà were contacted immediately by store staff and rushed to the scene. The shop was also evacuated by staff and temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution for customer safety. A Garda spokesperson confirmed that a man, 40s, was arrested near the scene and detained at a Garda station in the city.
He was later released without charge, and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Dunnes was reopened after Gardaà conducted a technical examination, and is operating as usual today. Investigations are ongoing.
A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaà responded to report of an incident at a business premises in Ballyvolane in Cork city yesterday, Thursday 1st January 2026 at approximately 2pm. The premises was evacuated and the scene was technically examined. It has since been reopened.
“A man (40s) was arrested near the scene and was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in Cork city. He was released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigations are ongoing.”