Judge imposes community service on duo in unlawful neglect case

Two people have been sentenced to 240 hours community service in lieu of a two-year suspended sentence for the unlawful neglect of Evelyn Joel in Enniscorthy in 2006.

Eleanor Joel, daughter of Evelyn, and Jonathon Costen of Cluain Dara, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, were found guilty in December.

The two-year sentence was suspended for two years, on condition of good behaviour.

Judge Sean O'Donobhain said the evidence was gruesome in relation to how a terminally ill woman was abandoned in her own filth and he said the picture painted was one of almost mediaeval neglect.

He said the defence had sought to hold others, such as States agencies responsible, but that had been rejected by the jury.