Couple leave Co Clare pensioner ‘in state of absolute fear’

A young couple left a vulnerable pensioner “in a state of absolute fear” forcing him to leave the home he loved and move into HSE accommodation.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Gerald Keyes sentenced Jonathan Kenny (25) and his girlfriend, Marie Linnane (19), to three years in jail, with the last year suspended, for obtaining monies by deception from Paddy Quane (67) last November in Kilrush. Kenny is to serve an additional year in jail as the crime was committed on Mr Quane while Kenny was serving a suspended jail term.

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 the car.

Demanded money

Garda Flaherty said Kenny, of Elm Drive, Kilrush, asked Mr Quane for €1,200 after telling him his car needed repair.

Garda Flaherty said an additional €600 was demanded as Linnane, of Griffin Road, Kilrush, wanted to go on a “shopping spree” in Ennis.

Garda Flaherty said they demanded the money after seeing Mr Quane’s credit union book on the table and that Kenny said Mr Quane would be in trouble if he didn’t give it to them.

Garda Flaherty said Mr Quane was “very frightened” of them at this stage and they accompanied him to the 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 Kenny who returned €400 to Mr Quane.

He said Linnane was complaining €600 wasn’t enough and 20 minutes later they returned to the credit union where Mr Quane withdrew an additional €300 and gave to Linnane.

‘Made my life hell’

Counsel for the State Stephen Coughlan said Mr Quane was “in a state of absolute terror”. Garda Flaherty said Mr Quane didn’t want to give the car to Kenny but he was told to get out and walk home. The garda said Mr Quane was warned not to report what happened otherwise “a baseball or a hurley would be used against him”. He said three or four days later, the two demanded a further €100 from him.

Garda Flaherty said the theft only came to light when Kilrush District Council reported damage done to Mr Quane’s house and gardaí investigated.

In his victim impact statement, Mr Quane said Kenny and Linnane “made my life hell” and were “as bad as each other”. 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. Since these people started calling to me, they made my life hell. They bullied me and threatened me.”

Mr Quane said he suffered a heart attack weeks after the crime, on December 10th.

“They took most of my life’s savings. I only have €1,000 left in my credit union account.”