An elderly member of the Legion of Mary who threatened to blow up her neighbour's van was given a four-month suspended sentence yesterday after the presiding judge was told she had learned from her mistakes.
Mrs Mary McGrath (63), Innishmore Drive, Ballincollig, Co Cork, was convicted in May last year of threatening to kill or cause serious injury to father of two Mr Christopher Blackham. She had accused him of dumping her into a wheelie bin after an argument broke out between the pair.
However, her claims were dismissed as falsehoods by Judge Con O'Leary.
A psychiatrist's report prepared for the courts stated the pensioner suffers from "a restrictive cognitive ability to understand what she is doing".
Mr Blackham and his wife Gina previously told the judge they had a quiet and restful night only once during the week, during Mrs McGrath's Legion of Mary meeting when she turned off her loud music.
The Blackhams claimed Mrs McGrath continually abused them, frightened their two children and even at one stage threatened to kill them. The pensioner's verbal outbursts were attributed to excessive drinking. However, the court has heard she has made strenuous efforts to stay away from alcohol in recent times.
Mrs McGrath's solicitor, Mr Brian Long, told Cork District Court yesterday that his client was tired of the whole case and was hoping to see it finalised.
"She has served six weeks at Limerick prison and it was not a pleasant experience for her. In fairness she has turned up for court on every occasion except once when she was ill. The media spotlight on this case has also taken its toll."
Judge O'Leary finalised the case yesterday, sentencing Mrs McGrath to four months in jail. The sentence was suspended and the elderly woman was bound to the peace for a year.