66-year-old ‘intimidated and harassed’ for money

66-year-old ‘intimidated and harassed’ for money


A judge described a case in which three women preyed on a 66-year-old woman in order to extract a total of €6,500 from her bank accounts as a ‘very serious matter’. Judge Carmel Stewart made the comment after Fiona McDonagh of 18, The Maples, Ballyhaunis pleaded guilty to two charges of theft on two separate dates in December 2011. The court heard that the 20-year old acquainted the woman and came to her home to clean.
On subsequent occasions Ms McDonagh brought along her second cousin and her sister-in-law who asked the woman for money over a number of weeks. On a date in early December, the victim was driven to the local Credit Union to take out money. The sum of €2,000 was then handed to McDonagh. On another occasion the victim was brought to a local GP to collect a prescription, then to a chemist and finally to her local bank. On this occasion the victim withdrew €3,500 and gave it to McDonagh and the two others. Detective Garda Gary Walsh told the court that over a three week period, 114 calls were made to the victim with various requests and demands.
Detective Walsh said the woman felt ‘intimidated and harassed’. Out of the 114 calls, 102 calls were made on Ms McDonagh’s phone. Detective Walsh said McDonagh minimised her role in the incident at first but soon cooperated with Gardaí admitting she received €3,600 in total. Defense counsel Eoin Garavan said his client ‘got on the bandwagon’ with the older ladies in committing the ‘mean offence’ but that she was remorseful.
The court was told that although the women did not threaten or harm the victim, she still felt ‘I had to give them money’. Mr Garavan told the court that the mother of one is currently living with her husband’s grandmother in Athenry and hasn’t come to the attention of the Gardaí since. The court heard that Ms McDonagh currently has €200 saved toward compensation to the victim.
Judge Stewart stated that it was regrettable that some compensation hadn’t been paid at this stage. The Judge put the matter forward to October 17 next awaiting a probation report, adding that full compensation to the woman should be discharged by this time.