A Donegal mother of six was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment yesterday for what was described as a "savage" attempted murder and robbery of an elderly neighbour.
The sentence will be reviewed on January 20th next year to see if a sum of money taken has been repaid and if the woman has recovered from denial of the attack, for which she had shown neither regret nor remorse and for which the trial judge said he had received no proper explanation.
Mrs Margaret McCole (43), of Magherard, Drung, Quigley's Point, on the Inishowen Peninsula appeared before Mr Justice Quirke for sentencing at the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of Mr William Harrigan (then 83) at his home in Magherard Lane, Drung, in the early hours of May 9th, 1996.
On January 22nd last a jury convicted Mrs McCole of the attempted murder, which she had denied. She pleaded guilty to four other counts of robbery and assault on Mr Harrigan.
Mr Harrigan, a bachelor farmer who is now 86, was not present yesterday. He had given evidence that before the attack she had looked after him, making him breakfast and lunch and collecting his old age pension.
In December 1995 they discussed how he was to be looked after in his old age, and he subsequently changed his will to her benefit. Later that month he entrusted £5,000 to her for safekeeping, money he intended to go to his niece, Ms Betty Corr, who lived in Massachusetts.
The court heard that over that Christmas and the New Year Mrs McCole spent all but £20 of the money. When Ms Corr returned from the United States on May 2nd 1996, Mrs McCole feared discovery of her fraud. She admitted entering Mr Harrigan's house on May 9th and beating him over the head with a claw hammer until he fell to the floor.
Mr Justice Quirke said he was taking into account the revulsion the community felt at such crimes while also considering Mrs McCole's exemplary life up to that point; her love for her children and the likelihood that she would not re-offend.
He trusted that the remaining sum of money owed to Mr Harrigan would be paid back soon and was giving Mrs McCole the benefit of a psychiatrist's report that she was "in denial" about the attack.
On the first count of attempted murder he sentenced her to seven years' imprisonment, backdated to her first day in custody on January 20th last.
For unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm with intent, she received a two-year sentence. For entering as a trespasser on Mr Harrigan's premises on the same night and stealing £340 in cash while having in her possession a weapon of offence, a claw hammer, she was also sentenced to two years.
Mrs McCole was also convicted of converting monies for her own benefit. The sentence for all of the counts to which she pleaded guilty will run concurrently with the seven-year sentence.
Three of Mrs McCole's children were present in court for sentencing while her husband Oliver and two other children remained outside. Afterwards, her husband and children gathered around her outside and cried.