A young couple left a vulnerable pensioner “in a state of absolute fear” forcing him to leave the home that he loved and move into HSE accommodation.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Gerald Keyes sentenced Jonathan Kenny (25) and his girlfriend, Marie Linnane (19) for three years with the last year suspended for obtaining monies by deception from Paddy Quane (67) last November in Kilrush.
Mr Kenny is to serve an additional one year in jail as the crime was committed on Mr Quane while Kenny was serving a suspended jail term.
In evidence, Garda Conor Flaherty said that during a burglary on Mr Quane’s home on November 9th last, Mr Quane’s car vanished and five days later, Kenny and Linnane called to his house driving Mr Quane’s car.
Garda Flaherty said that Kenny of Elm Drive, Kilrush asked Mr Quane for €1,200 after telling him that his car was in need of repair.
In addition, Garda Flaherty said that an additional €600 was demanded as Ms Linnane of Griffin Rd, Kilrush wanted to go on a ‘shopping spree’ in Ennis.
Garda Flaherty said that they made the demand for the money after seeing Mr Quane’s credit union book on the table and that Mr Kenny said that Mr Quane would be in trouble if he didn’t give them the money.
Garda Flaherty said that Mr Quane was ‘very frightened’ of them at this stage and they accompanied him to the local credit union in his car where he withdrew €2,300 including €400 for himself.
The Garda said that after Mr Quane withdrew the money, he gave it to Mr Kenny who returned €400 to Mr Quane.
He said that Ms Linnane was complaining that €600 wasn’t enough and 20 minutes later they returned to the credit union where Mr Quane withdrew an additional €300 and gave to Ms Linnane.
Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan BL said that Mr Quane was “in a state of absolute terror” at this stage.
Garda Flaherty said that he didn’t want to give the car to Mr Kenny but he was told to get out of car and walk home.
The Garda said that Mr Quane was warned not to report what happened otherwise “a baseball or a hurley would be used against him”.
He said that three or four days later, the two demanded a further €100 from Mr Quane when they said that they were hungry.
Garda Flaherty said that the theft from Mr Quane only came to light when Kilrush District Council reported damage done to Mr Quane’s house and Gardai investigated.
In his victim impact statement, Mr Quane said Kenny and Linnane “made my life hell”
He said: “They are as bad as each other.”
In the statement, he said: “I lived at my home in Kilrush for five years. I loved living there because it was near town and I had good neighbours
He added: “Since these people started calling to me, they have my life hell. They bullied me and threatened me and stole my money and my car. They made me take my money out of my credit union and give it to them.
Mr Quane said: They were always threatening me with violence not to call the Gardai. I was scared of them. They would just take my car when they felt like it and walk into my house and threaten violence on me.
The retired fisherman said that Kenny “would even punch me in my arm to scare me”.
He said: “Since this incident happened, I have left my house because of the intimidation. I was scared of them and what they would do to me. I will never go back to my home. I now live in a HSE house and I feel safer because they do not know where I live.”
Mr Quane also revealed that he suffered a heart attack weeks after the crime on December 10th last.
He said: “I have been stressed since this happened to me. I will never go home because of what they did to me. They took most of my life’s savings. I only have a €1,000 left in my credit union account and I hope I will never see these people again.”
The court heard that the two accused are drug addicts and Mr Kenny has 47 previous convictions.
Judge Keys said that if ever there was an example of how destructive and savage the effects of drugs are, this was a classic example.
Judge Keys said that if there was such drugs facilities available there is a strong possibility that the two may not be before the court.
The judge said that the two had taken advantage of a vulnerable man and bullied him into giving them his money and society must be protected.
