An elderly nursing home resident was “practically bled dry” by a woman entrusted with his care, who stole over €82,000 from his bank accounts, a court was told.
Dawn Lambert (62) of St Manntan’s Park, Wicklow Town, Co Wicklow, received a fully suspended three-year prison sentence after admitting four counts of theft at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court, reports Breaking News.
Evidence indicated that Lambert, a single unemployed woman, had stolen a total of €82,804 from Patrick Maher (82) by using his bank cards to withdraw cash from an ATM in Bray, Co Wicklow, between September 24th, 2022, and June 20th, 2024.
Detective Garda Frank Gunter said the accused had known Mr Maher, now living in Knockrobin Hill Care Home in Wicklow Town, since 2009 when he was residing in Rathnew, Co Wicklow, reports Breaking News.
He told the court Lambert was not an official home-help but assisted Mr Maher with various tasks, such as taking him to medical appointments, and had gained his trust.
Det Garda Gunter explained the victim had given Lambert two bank cards in September 2022 to pay his bills after a fall at home required hospitalisation and a subsequent move to a nursing home, reports Breaking News.
Gardaí were alerted to the case after an advocacy worker for older people – Sage Advocacy – questioned why Mr Maher appeared to have no finances while applying for the Fair Deal nursing home scheme.
The official noted numerous cash withdrawals in Mr Maher’s bank statements, which the pensioner claimed he knew nothing about, reports Breaking News.
Det Garda Gunter said the victim had been in a care home since September 2022 and did not even know the PINs for his bank cards.
The court heard that €75,550 was withdrawn in 495 transactions using two bank cards, while the total amount stolen from the accounts was €82,804, reports Breaking News.
Det Garda Gunter told prosecution counsel, James Kelly BL, he could not specify how much of the money was used for Mr Maher’s care but accepted that some cash went toward legitimate expenses.
When arrested, Lambert admitted taking the money to fund her gambling problem, reports Breaking News.
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The court heard most of the money was spent on slot machines.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Conor Rubaclava BL, Det Garda Gunter confirmed that €60,190 had been repaid by Lambert with family assistance in return for giving up any inheritance from her mother, reports Breaking News.
The accused, with no previous convictions, is a full-time carer for her elderly mother and a part-time carer for her sister.
Det Garda Gunter said Lambert was apologetic, distraught, and “very upset about everything” after her arrest, reports Breaking News.
Mr Rubaclava said Lambert was known in her community as a very caring person and had taken steps to tackle her addiction by attending Gamblers Anonymous.
He noted the first thing Lambert told him was about her “wanting to make things right”, reports Breaking News.
Mr Rubaclava added she was “genuinely remorseful and full of guilt and shame”.
He provided the court with multiple character references, including from gardaí and clergy, highlighting Lambert’s trustworthy and caring nature, reports Breaking News.
The barrister highlighted one reference stating her “whole life is lived for other people”.
Asking for a non-custodial sentence, Mr Rubaclava said Lambert was due to receive a one-year ribbon for attending Gamblers Anonymous next week, reports Breaking News.
He added she wanted to ask Mr Maher for forgiveness and to apologise to him in person.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Maher said: “I never want her to come into my house again”, reports Breaking News.
He described feeling very upset, annoyed, and sad over such a breach of trust.
The pensioner said the theft had caused significant worry about paying his bills and contributed to heart problems, leaving him unable to trust people, reports Breaking News.
Judge Patrick Quinn noted gambling was the root of Lambert’s difficulties, though she posed a low risk of re-offending.
He acknowledged the stolen sum was substantial and taken over an extended period, reports Breaking News.
However, he recognised Lambert had repaid over €60,000, some of the remaining money covered legitimate expenses, and the offending was “out of character”.
Sentencing Lambert to three years in prison, Judge Quinn suspended the entire term for three years on condition she does not come to Garda attention in the future and continues attending Gamblers Anonymous to address her addiction, reports Breaking News.
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