An Ennis woman has gone on trial accused of stealing over 30 thousand euro from an elderly resident at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
59 year old Josephine O’Brien of Bridge View, Ennis has pleaded not guilty to ten seperate counts of theft totally €30,152 from the bank account of Stephen O’Halloran.
Ennis Circuit Court heard the 87 year old pensioner and Ms O’Brien first met when they were patients at Ennis General Hospital .
They later moved into shared accommodation in Lenabeg- before he went into Saint Joseph’s in December 2005.
Mr O’Halloran, formerly of Corrovorin, Fergus Lawns was in receipt of an English pension which was lodged into a Permanent TSB account – He said he gave the 59 year old his ATM card "to look after"- but added she didn’t have his consent to withdraw money.
The pensioner realised there was little or no funds left in late 2010 when decided to use it to pay for his continuing care at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
The court heard the money was withdrawn from his account at various cash machines over a period of time up until 2010.
Ms O’Brien said she had permission to withdraw the money and in an interview with Gardaí , said she used some of the proceeds of the €30,152 to open up a drop-in centre for the homeless on Ennis’s Chapel Lane where the homeless were provided with soup and sandwiches.
The court was also told the 59 year did not see Mr O’Halloran at any time in hospital during the 3 and a half years the money was withdrawn.
Closing speeches in the case are due to be made today.
