Theft from nun ‘was vile, nasty, and despicable’
At Ennis District Court, Judge Patrick Durcan jailed Leanne Purcell of Seminary Court, Blackpool, and Ardcullen, Hollyhill, Cork, for four months for the robbery of €40 from Sr Anne O’Grady.
Judge Durcan said: “This was a very nasty and despicable crime. It was activity of the vilest nature.”
The court heard that Purcell was homeless in Ennis and had approached Sr O’Grady at the home of the Sisters of Mercy in the town to give her the price of the bus home to Cork.
Insp Tom Kennedy told the court Sr O’Grady said she would drive Purcell to the bus station and buy her a ticket there.
However, Insp Kennedy said that while in the car, Purcell stole Sr O’Grady’s purse, which contained €40.
Purcell was later arrested and the purse recovered without the €40.
Daragh Hassett, for Purcell, said she had not been in Ennis five minutes and arrived at the Fairways flat complex, which he called “an oasis of drug takers, drunks, and the homeless”.
He said Purcell went to Sr O’Grady to get the fare home. He said: “She panicked and took the wallet. She was drunk and on drugs at the time.
“She is very sorry and very remorseful to Sr O’Grady, who was showing her charity and doing her best.”
Judge Durcan said: “This defendant went to the one place in Ennis where she was going to receive assistance. In the context of being offered assistance, she abused the person who was offering her assistance.
“We had in the past in this country a society where we recognised the tremendous contribution in education, health, and charity on the part of the Sisters of Mercy.
“We now have a society where people show disrespect and scant regard and this type of behaviour by this defendant is, I regard, as absolutely vile and appalling behaviour.”
Judge Durcan said Purcell took full advantage of Sr O’Grady’s charity and “that is nothing short of appalling”.
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