Hidden cameras caught carer stealing OAP's cash

Margaret McAteer (39) of Drumawillin Park pleaded guilty to theft from the woman at Coleraine Courthouse on Friday.

A prosecutor told the court that McAteer took 240 from the 83-year-old woman - who lives alone - over a one week period from May 6 to May 13 last year.

The victim’s family were suspicious that money was going missing from the woman’s purse and installed hidden cameras in her home.

After two instances of the cameras failing to capture cash going missing, the family employed a professional security company to fit more high-tech equipment.

On May 11 the cameras recorded McAteer entering the victim’s bedroom and removing 60 from the pensioner’s handbag which she then placed in her back pocket.

McAteer was interviewed at Ballycastle Police Station on June 30 where she denied taking any money.

She detailed her duties to police which included helping the woman to dress and picking up items from the shops on her behalf.

She was told to report to the station again on July 9 where she was shown the camera footage of her taking money from the woman’s bag.

A defence solicitor told the court his client was a single parent with three children. He said she denied taking money on other occasions.

“This is a very serious breach of trust case,” he said.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall said the circumstances of the case put it into the “serious end of the bracket”.

The defence solicitor said his client was aware she had carried out a “dreadful deed” adding that McAteer was having trouble reconciling she had done such a thing.

He added: “She has certainly suffered a considerable degree in terms of the community in Ballycastle.

“Almost everybody knows about this.

“She feels a certain amount of shame.

“However they are circumstances she realises she has brought upon herself.”

Ms Bagnall said it was to McAteer’s credit she had entered an early plea to the offence but said the fact a vulnerable woman had been the victim of such a crime made it a “nasty” offence.

McAteer was ordered to carry out 200 hours community service and told to pay 240 compensation to the victim.

“Be saving to gather that up,” said Ms Bagnall.