A Moycullen man who committed a “huge breach of trust” by robbing an elderly and vulnerable man on his way to the shops has received a seven month suspended sentence.
Brendan Finnerty (31 ) with an address at Oldtown, Moycullen, appeared at Galway District Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to stealing €1,600 cash from a man at Pairc Na Gcaor, Moycullen, on January 31, 2010.
Inspector Aidan Foley told the court that at 7.30pm a man in his eighties had been on his way to the shops when he was “befriended” by Finnerty, who then assisted the man on his way back home. However Finnerty then cruelly put his hand inside the elderly man’s pocket and stole the cash before running away from the area.
Defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran said that on the date in question her client had been drinking all day. She added that Finnerty, who is unemployed, is “deeply ashamed of what he has done”. Ms Corcoran explained that Finnerty had been out having a cigarette when he met the man and that there was no element of pre-meditation involved. The court then heard that Finnerty had repaid all the money that was taken and that he had brought into court a further €400 as an expression of remorse.
“This is unfortunate for everyone, this man has been of good character but he was influenced by alcohol. However the court must take into account this was an elderly man and that it was a huge breach of trust. He knew he was elderly and still took the money. He picked on someone who was vulnerable,” said Judge Mary Fahy before convicting Finnerty and imposing a seven months sentence suspended for 12 months on condition that he enter into a bond of €500 to be of good behaviour.
The €400 compensation was handed into court, however Judge Fahy warned that the injured party may not want to accept the money and if this the case then the money should be given to a charity.
