Laura Pennick’s sentencing adjourned with repayment conditions

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Laura Pennick’s sentencing was adjourned for one year, with Judge Melanie Greally requiring her to pay Marie McNally €1,100 within 14 days and save €100 each week for her.

The sentence hearing was held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 7 November 2016. The proceedings were reported on 7 November 2016. Pennick pleaded guilty to stealing €41,935 from McNally. The thefts took place between January 2010 and December 2012.

The court had previously heard that Pennick befriended McNally while living two doors away in Finglas. McNally was unwell and her two sons had been killed. Pennick began helping with her care, collecting her pension and settling bills. She could access McNally’s ATM cards and two bank accounts, one holding an inheritance from the sale of McNally’s late mother’s house.

Garda Colin Rourke said Pennick withdrew sums of up to €600 and used the money for improvements to her home, clothing, furnishings, appliances and holidays. Pennick told gardaí that her own financial difficulties had prompted the thefts. Her defence counsel, Damien Colgan SC, said people she owed money to had made serious threats against her.

The report recorded 29 previous convictions, including five for theft. One concerned €1,000 stolen from her former employer, JD Sports. Colgan said Pennick had put aside €1,100 for McNally and offered to save €100 weekly over the coming year.

Judge Greally left open the possibility of imprisonment. She said McNally should recover as much as possible, while acknowledging that the proposed repayments would cover only a small share of her loss. The next hearing was listed for 4 December of the following year.