Courts / Dublin / Report
Woman gets six years for targeting elderly and vulnerable with burglaries
Summary
Michelle O'Leary, 34, was jailed for six years after she broke into the homes of two elderly men in April 2021. She first forced entry into a 90‑year‑old man's house, brandishing a knife, demanding money, and taking €60 before leaving. The next day she called a 69‑year‑old neighbour, claiming her mother was ill and needed money for a hospital visit. He gave her €70, but later that evening O'Leary and an accomplice entered his home, demanded €100, and tried to walk him to a shop to withdraw the money. The shop manager, recognising the victim, called the Gardaí. O'Leary was arrested at her mother's apartment, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, production of a knife, burglary, attempted robbery and false imprisonment, and admitted to 30 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to seven years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The case highlighted the targeting of vulnerable, elderly men living alone.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman gets six years for targeting elderly and vulnerable with burglaries. Charges or matters: aggravated burglary, production of a knife and making a statement to suggest she was a member of An Garda Siochána on April 15, 2021; burglary, attempted robbery and false imprisonment of the other man on March 27, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 2021 Incident
- April 15, 2021 Adjournment
- March 27, 2021 Incident
- 2022-02-03 Publication
Why: The previous month she had called three times to another neighbour's home, a 69-year-old man, and asked him for money to get to the hospital because her mother was unwell. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: aggravated burglary, production of a knife and making a statement to suggest she was a member of An Garda Siochána on April 15, 2021; burglary, attempted robbery and false imprisonment of the other man on March 27, 2021 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Greally sentenced O'Leary to seven years imprisonment but suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request