You may recall that last year we reported on the man who turned up at a post office in Ireland attempting to collect the pension of his dead uncle, whose body he was dragging under his arms along the pavement.
Declan Haughney had asked his friend, Gareth Coakley, to help him carry his uncle, PEADAR to Hoseys post office in Carlow, Ireland, but when one concerned onlooker confronted them, Haughney allegedly responded: “He’s grand.”
Once inside the post office, Haughney attempted to claim his uncle’s €246 (£211) pension payment, but once police arrived at the scene they pronounced that the uncle was indeed dead although no one was able to confirm the exact time of his demise.
As a result family members say they believe Haughney’s claim that his uncle had actually been alive when he left the house.
Peadar’s niece said, “As unhappy and hurt as we are, we’re not in a position to condemn Declan for taking him out of the house dead. There is absolutely no evidence that he did that. There is no evidence to call him a liar.”
Peadar’s brother-in-law, and Declan’s uncle Liam Dowling, added: “If there’s no proof to the other side, you have to give him the benefit of doubt.”
The niece explained that Haughney had lived with Peadar for much of his life, and said they routinely split pension and social welfare payments after household bills had been settled.
“They were very, very close. Of anyone in the world, Declan would never have harmed Peadar,” she said.
Asked why the family didn’t disown Declan, she said, “It wouldn’t be morally correct.
“We have those morals; we are dignified people … stand by the truth. We are not the type of family to condemn someone by what someone says unfounded, just because it’s popular and looks better for us.”
Declan Haughney was sentenced earlier this month to two years in jail with six months suspended for attempted deception, but walked free just one week later thanks to time served and remission.
In the second hour toady, I was joined by Margaret Mills who took us on a trip to Maldon to learn about a hospital for lepers that was gifted by one monarch only to be demolished by another king.
Listen here to the story of St Giles: –
Catch you again next week,
Scott
