Courtney McGrailJoe Barrett
A young Wexford woman, who obtained a total of €750 from two parish priests in Laois while claiming to be a social worker, has appeared at Portlaoise District Court on three counts of deception.
Rebecca O’Leary (22) pleaded guilty to the three charges that occurred on October 8 and 12, twice from Portlaoise Parish Centre and once from the Parochial House in Stradbally, Co. Laois.
Garda Jerry Dillon told the court that when the charges were put to the mother of three, she replied, “I’m sorry. I’ll try and get the money. I have some money on me.”
He told Judge Catherine Staines that on October 8 Ms O’Leary went to the Parish Centre in Portlaoise where she met with Msgr John Byrne. She told him that she was a social worker by the name of Emma Murphy and needed €200 for another woman who was in danger of going to prison and that the money would be reimbursed.
The same day she met with the parish priest of Stradbally Fr Jim O’Connell again telling him that she was a social worker and required €200 to assist a woman in need.
Two days later she again contacted the Parish Centre in Portlaoise where this time she said that another woman needed €350 for rent on a house and that the money would be returned when the woman received her social welfare payment.
Garda Dillon said that a number of days later Ms O’Leary rang the parish priest at Ferrybank in Wexford again informing him that she was a social worker and requesting financial assistance for a woman who was in distress. He said by this time parish priests had alerted each other about the incidents after they became suspicious. The priest in Ferrybank agreed to meet with Ms O’Leary. When she arrived at his house gardaí were present and arrested her.
Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that the money her client has taken was spent on her home and on her three young daughters aged from eight months to four years. She said that Ms O’Leary was taking full responsibility for her actions.
“It was a foolish escapade. When she got the money the first time it just snowballed from there. She wants to publicly apologise to the two priests. It was very mean and she is deeply ashamed of what she did. She has no drug or drink issues. It was simply opportunistic,” said Ms Fitzpatrick.
Judge Staines adjourned the case until February 2.