Double agony for scammed mother whose son was killed
A PENSIONER who was robbed of her life savings by her ‘carer’ will return to court next month to see the thief – on the day two men go on trial accused of murdering her own son.
Marie McNally, 68, told the Circuit Court last year how her neighbour had began to take care of her on an unofficial basis after her son, Graham, was shot dead.
Laura Pennick, a mother of two, stole the grieving mother’s life savings after Ms McNally inherited a large sum from the sale of her own late mother’s home.
In bank statements seen by the Mail, €33,000 was lodged into Ms McNally’s account after the sale of the house. Prior to that, her disability payments were lodged weekly and spent by Pennick.
Last year, Pennick pleaded guilty to stealing Ms McNally’s savings between January 2010 and December 2012. The court heard she had spent the money on ‘home improvements, fashion purchases, home furnishings, home appliances and holidays’.
Hundreds of euros went on taxis to and from schools to collect her children, as Pennick spent an average of €250 per day.
Pennick is due back in court on December 4 – the same date as the murder trial over the death of Graham McNally begins.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, Ms McNally said she was anxious about dealing with the two cases on the same day.
‘It will be very difficult, it’s been so hard for us over the last few years. My only two sons were shot dead and I lost my grandson, Glen, who was found dead in the Royal Canal. I was robbed of my life savings in the middle of all of this. There is no support for people like me and I don’t know anyone who can relate to this.
‘In terms of Laura’s case and the money she stole from me, it is devastating, to say the least, that someone would prey on you when you are so vulnerable.
‘I was left broke and penniless
‘Sale of her late mother’s home’
over Christmas last year because Laura did not give me the lumpsum she was due to hand over last November.’
Judge Melanie Greally ordered Pennick to pay a lump sum of €1,100 to Ms McNally within 14 days of her last court appearance on November 7 last year.
However, Ms McNally did not receive the money until January despite complaining to the gardaí on several occasions.
Meanwhile Gary Thompson, of Plunkett Drive, Finglas, and Glen McGrath, of McKelvey Avenue, Finglas, both Dublin, are due to stand trial for the murder of Ms McNally’s son Graham in 2009.