Two men have been sentenced to two years and 18 months in prison for trying to fraud a postal worker last year over a deceased person’s pension, reports RTE.
The incident happened at Hosie Post Office on Stapletown Road in Carlow on January 21 last year.
Declan Hagney, 41, of Pollerton Road, Carlow, was sentenced to two years in prison, while his co-defendant, Gareth Coakley, 37, of John Sweeney Park, Carlow, was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
CCTV from a car park near Bridge Street was shown to the court today, reports RTE.
It shows 66-year-old Pedder Doyle being dragged by two men just outside the post office.
The video also shows an audience member, Claire Knight, stopping the couple earlier to check if Mr. Doyle was okay.
She saw them being dragged down the street and followed the three to the post office to call an ambulance.
CCTV from inside the post office showed Hawney and Coakley picking up Mr. Doyle, who was wearing a hat, from his home, which was 400 meters away, reports RTE.
The court heard that Hagney had tried to withdraw Mr Doyle’s pension prior to the incident, but was told by a postal worker that he could not because he was not Mr Doyle’s agent.
Noeleen Dowling, Mr Doyle’s sister, was the only agent named who can collect the pension on his behalf.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly said it was impossible to ascertain the exact time of Mr Doyle’s death, but said both men were guilty of attempted fraud.
Judge O’Kelly said the two men had literally abandoned Mr Doyle in front of the post counter, which had created public interest in the case and hurt Mr Doyle’s family, reports RTE.
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