Two Waterford sisters who stole £51,000 (€64,800) in cash from an elderly Kerry publican's bedroom closet have been jailed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Nora O'Reilly (31) was jailed for three years and Margaret Doherty (25) for 18 months by Judge Yvonne Murphy. She described the sisters as "a threat to people's personal security and property".
O'Reilly and Doherty, of Kilbarry, Co Waterford, were found guilty by a jury last month of burgling the private premises of Mr Jeremiah Griffin (70), at Griffin's Bar in Castlemaine, Kerry, on August 22nd, 1999.
O'Reilly had 30 previous convictions, the majority of which related to larceny. Her sister Margaret had eight previous convictions, of a similar nature.
Judge Murphy noted the courts had previously shown leniency towards Doherty, who had received a long suspended sentence just five months prior to the offence for which she was now being jailed.
She said Doherty's role had been minor compared to her sister's and she had four young children. She also had led a difficult life.
The court heard they were from a Travelling community family of 20 siblings. Doherty married when she was 16 and was now separated from her husband, against whom she has a barring order.
Judge Murphy refused leave to appeal to defence counsel Mr Barry White SC, for O'Reilly and Mr Donagh McDonagh SC, for Doherty.
The court heard during the five-day trial in February that the two women stole the money from Mr Griffin's private premises after hearing at a pub in Tralee of the "old fella's money".
Supt Francis O'Brien told the court last week that Mr Griffin was now being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners. He could not confirm that £300,000 was being sought from Mr Griffin in undeclared tax money.