Two city brothers have been jailed for six years - with 18 months suspended - over the theft of an estimated €205,000 from an elderly woman.
46 year old Thomas Coen, and 38 year old Michael Coen, of 181 Corrib Park, Newcastle pleaded guilty to the theft of large sums of cash between June 2014 and November 2015.
The now 76-year-old woman told Gardai she handed over her life savings to Thomas and Michael Coen over an 18-month period because she feared for her life.
She said she was too ashamed and embarrassed to inform her family of what was happening.
The brothers had carried out work at the woman’s home and garden and demanded payment on an almost daily basis over 18 months until Gardai were alerted.
The woman said she was afraid of them and felt "it was my money or my life" and "I knew they were codding me up to my eyeballs”.
Gardai accepted that while €205,000 had been stolen, the brothers had taken just €80,000 of it for themselves and that other people were behind the scam as well.
Other people had been arrested and questioned but the DPP’s office had directed they were not to be prosecuted.
Conal McCarthy, who represented Thomas Coen, said his client had repaid €6,000 and if given time was willing to repay €500 a week to the woman.
Michael Clancy, who represented Michael Coen, said his client had already paid €1500 back and if given time he too would make regular €500 repayments to the victim.
Det. Foley said the woman was not interested in compensation and she just wanted closure.
