A Donegal woman convicted of the attempted murder of her neighbour two years ago has been remanded in custody for sentencing on March 24th.
On Thursday evening a jury in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin found Margaret McCole (43), of Magherard, Drung, Quigley's Point, on the Inishowen Peninsula, guilty of the attempted murder of Mr William Harrigan (84) at his home in Magherard Lane on May 9th, 1996.
She had earlier pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to him and to a number of counts of dishonesty involving £340 and £5,000 belonging to him.
Yesterday the officer in charge of the Garda investigation, Supt Tom Long, told the judge McCole had married at the age of 19 and had six children, the youngest of whom was now three years old. She and her husband had lived in Magherard for 17 years and she had worked in a local hospital until after the attack on Mr Harrigan.
She had looked after a woman for the hospital and was regarded as a good minder and careworker.
Supt Long understood she had spent the money she had taken over Christmas of 1995 on clothing and furniture. He agreed that, but for the attack on Mr Harrigan, gardai might never have known of McCole's actions.
Mr Justice Quirke heard that the attitude of Mr Harrigan towards McCole since the attack was "uncomprehending".
Judge Quirke agreed with a defence application for the preparation of probation and welfare reports and other professional evidence. He said the case was not a normal one, and there were certain matters on which he required explanation and help before sentencing.