WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSING AS SOCIAL WORKER TO CON PRIESTS

A WOMAN who passed herself off as a social worker to persuade priests to part with money has entered a guilty plea.

Rebecca O’Leary ( 23), of 52 Castlerock, Carrigduff, Bunlcody, pleaded guilty to 11 charges of theft of money by deception from three priests in the Wexford area.

Wexford Circuit Criminal Court was told by defence counsel Dylan Redmond that the total amount involved came to € 4,000.

The total amount conned from Fr Noel Hartley in June 2015 came to more than € 3,000, according to the charge sheet before Judge Sean O Donnabhain.

The charge sheets showed that Fr Hartley was persuaded to part with seven sums ranging from € 100 to € 2,000 by Ms O’Leary’s ‘ fabricated stories of financial difficulties’.

In the case of Monsignor Denis Lennon, the priest was conned into handing over € 300 as the defendant purported to be a social worker.

A similar sum was obtained from Fr Diarmuid Desmond on September 6, 2015, at St. Patrick’s Church, Rosslare Harbour, where she also purported to be a social worker.

Defence Counsel Mr Redmond asked for an adjournment for the preparation of a Probation and Welfare report.

Replying to Judge O Donnabhian he also said they would see what progress could be made toward refunding the money.

As prosecuting counsel Ms Sinead Gleeson had no object to a remand on continuing bail, Judge O Donnabhain adjourned the matter to May 16 next.