Sabrina O'Connor acquitted on ten charges in care-worker trial

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

A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found former care worker Sabrina O'Connor not guilty on ten charges arising from allegations that she stole money from an elderly woman in her care. The proceedings were reported on 29 June 2018.

O'Connor, 37, of The Green, Dunboyne Castle, Dunboyne, Co Meath, had denied 13 counts of theft and one of deception in Dublin between June 2010 and December 2011.

After deliberating for just under six hours, the jury was unable to reach verdicts on three counts. O'Connor was remanded on continuing bail until 9 July to deal with those charges. On 29 June, Judge Karen O'Connor ordered that €15,000 be paid to the complainant.

The State alleged that O'Connor stole from the woman's bank account while working as her carer, including €15,000 allegedly used to secure an option to purchase or rent a house. It was also alleged that she stole an €8,500 bank draft to buy a Land Rover. The court heard evidence that she used 11 cheques totalling €20,100 to take money from the account and spent it for her own benefit.

O'Connor testified that the woman had given her money for a vehicle and lent her €15,000 towards a house deposit. She said neither sum had been repaid, although she had tried to return the €15,000 and was told the cash was in custody. She also said that, at times, she withdrew cash from her own account for the woman, who would reimburse her by cheque. O'Connor agreed this was unusual and said she had not told her employers because she feared losing her job.

O'Connor agreed she knew accepting money from a client was against her work policy. The judge said she had not behaved admirably in relation to the procedures for care workers and clients.