Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for man who stole nearly €10k from elderly friend's life savings
Summary
John McDonald, aged 57, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 18 months imprisonment for stealing nearly €10,000 from the life savings of his 74‑year‑old friend, Matthew Murphy, while Murphy was hospitalized. McDonald had befriended Murphy, who was 80 at the time of the theft, and had helped him with shopping. When Murphy was admitted to hospital, McDonald used Murphy's ATM card to make 29 withdrawals totalling €9,843. After Murphy's discharge, he discovered his savings account held only €15 and reported the theft to the Gardaí. McDonald was arrested in 2011, fled to Northern Ireland on bail, and was re‑arrested in Dublin in 2015. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft between December 2009 and February 2010. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as "a low crime" and imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, conditional on McDonald paying €12,000 to Murphy within one month.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for man who stole nearly €10k from elderly friend's life savings. Charges or matters: nine sample counts of theft from Mr Murphy between December 2009 and February 2010 during various transactions around Dublin. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 2009 Incident
- February 2010 Incident
- 2015-05-05 Publication
Why: McDonald was arrested and claimed Mr Murphy had agreed to lend him money because his family was in financial trouble. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: nine sample counts of theft from Mr Murphy between December 2009 and February 2010 during various transactions around Dublin (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan called it "a low crime" and said McDonald "behaved in a very devious and tricky fashion over the years." He imposed a three year sentence with the final 18 months suspended on condition that McDonald pays €12,000 to Mr Murphy within one month.; McDonald pleaded guilty in 2012 and asked for the case to be adjourned so he could repay the victim.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- North Circular Road
- Dublin
Topics
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