Sligo care worker unable to make court ordered repayment of €10k out of €15k she stole from elderly client

A care assistant who stole over €15,000 from an elderly woman hasn’t paid back th money as ordered, Sligo Circuit Court heard.

Mother of three, Jessica Brennan (37) of Caltragh Crescent, admitted stealing €15,400 from pensioner Nora Clarke, who has passed away by using her ATM card.

Last October, Judge Keenan Johnson ordered Bennan, who no longer workers as a carer, repay €16,500 to Nora Clarke’s estate to include payment of €2,300 she had with her in court, a further €10,200 by January 10 and the final €4,000 by December 31, 2023.

Single parent Brennan had pleaded guilty to the theft of €400 at the Bank of Ireland, Stephen Street on may 17th 2019, the theft of €400 on May 24th 2019 at Applegreen. Mail Coach Road; the theft of €600 at the Bank of Ireland, Stephen Street on June 4th 2019; the theft of €700 from the Bank of Ireland on June 14th 2019; the theft of €400 at Applegreen on June 21st 2019 and the theft of €50 on July 8th 2019 at an unknown location in Sligo.

The October sitting also heard that Brennan had run up a drug debt of €20,000.

Judge Keenan Johnson had imposed a sentence of two years and six months but suspended the sentence for five years on condition that Brennan kept the peace for five years and be under the supervision of the Probation service for a year.

He also ordered that she stay drug-free for five years and presents for urine analysis when asked.

However, the matter came back before the court on Thuesday last as the defendant had not compled with the terms of the previous sentencing hearing.

Brennan hoped to borrow €10,000 from the Credit Union to pay back the loan but she was refused and also by the AIB.

The court heard the defendant, now working in a call centre, had repaid a total of €3,300 but €13,200 was still unpaid.

Judge Keenan Johnson asked the defendant if she had any proposals.

A payment plan would have to be put in place, he said.

Mr Keith O’GradyBL, instructed by Mr Tom MacSharry, solicitor (defending) said there was no reality of payment at present as she was a mother-of-three with another child on the way.

He said that some further money had been set aside but it had been spent on Confirmation.

The defendant was earning €343 per week.

Judge Johnson said he was concerned that on the last occasion it was indicated that the monies would be paid.

The judge said he needed a feasible proposition and he did not have one.

He said his main concern was for the estate of the elderly person.

It was a nasty crime and a total breach of trust while the defendant was in the throes of an addiction and in debt to individuals.

He added that it was a benign sentence on the basis that the money would be repaid.

The judge said there would have to be an additional sum to be paid due to the delay.

He put the case back until after lunch for the defence to come up with a concrete proposal.

In the afternoon, it was agreed that the defendant would pay €500 every month until the debt was fully discharged.

Judge Johnson adjourned the case to October 3 when a total of €2,000 should be in court.

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