A Zimbabwean nurse aide has been jailed and sentenced to eight years for orchestrating violent burglaries targeting the elderly in Ireland.
Precious Moyo, 38, used her former employment as a caregiver to exploit the trust of her victims, aged between 73 and 89, committing a string of crimes in Athlone between June and September 2023.
Zimbabwean Nurse Aide Jailed For Violent Burglaries In Ireland
Moyo, who resided at the Athlone Accommodation Centre in County Westmeath, admitted to burglary and aggravated burglary charges. Her accomplice, 20-year-old Yamen Alhamada, a Syrian war refugee, was sentenced to six years for his involvement.
Judge Keenan Johnson described the crimes as “nasty,” adding that they had destroyed the victims’ sense of security, forcing some to abandon independent living.
The court heard harrowing evidence of how the pair traumatised their victims. Witnesses detailed incidents where Moyo and Alhamada gained access to homes under false pretences, often using disguises.
In one case, the duo broke into the home of an 80-year-old man with mobility issues, violently assaulting him and stealing €200 and cherished items belonging to his late wife.
“He was held by his arms by Yamen Alhamada, who pulled off his panic alarm from around his wrist. He was then pulled onto the ground and held down there,” Garda Detective Niall Cogavin testified.
The victim was left bleeding heavily and terrified, saying in his statement, “I’ve been broken into… lock them up for a long time because they are evil.”
Abusing Work Information
Moyo’s actions were facilitated by her prior knowledge of her victims’ routines and vulnerabilities. Prosecutors revealed that she had been dismissed from her caregiving job due to client complaints but used the information she had acquired during her employment to plan the burglaries.
One of the earliest incidents involved a 73-year-old woman whose handbag containing €24,000 was stolen. The victim’s sister told the court:
“This money was to be used for our funerals. My sister’s heart and my own heart are now broken.”
On another occasion, Alhamada posed as a Garda officer to gain access to the home of an 89-year-old woman with dementia. He stole her handbag, containing cash and bank cards, before fleeing with Moyo as his getaway driver.
The most violent act occurred in September, when Moyo and Alhamada targeted a man with dementia and his partner, stealing €10,000. Alhamada brandished a flick knife during the ordeal while Moyo demonstrated detailed knowledge of the house’s layout.
Victim impact statements described profound emotional and financial damage. One victim said:
“I’ve lost trust in people and am suspicious of people,” while another reported being constantly afraid and unable to live peacefully in their own home.
Despite recovering only a fraction of the stolen funds, the judge condemned the defendants’ actions as calculated and cruel.
Follow Us on Google News for Immediate Updates
The post Zimbabwean Nurse Aide Jailed For Violent Burglaries Targeting Elderly In Ireland appeared first on iHarare News.
Zim Instantly via Simplex Solutions