A man has been jailed for dragging his dead uncle’s “grey-coloured” corpse into a post office in a bid to claim his pension.
Irishman Declan Haughney, 40, of Carlow, County Carlow, hauled the body of Peadar Doyle, 66, into the town’s Hoseys Post Office with hopes to withdraw his €246 (£213) payment.
He was caught on CCTV alongside Gareth Coakley, 38, both of whom pleaded guilty to deception for the act.
The pair were captured dragging the “lifeless” body of Mr Doyle along the streets of Carlow and into the post office on January 21, 2022.
They propped the pensioner’s body against a wall while attempting to collect his payment.
Carlow Circuit Court heard the pair produced Mr Doyle’s social welfare card and attempted to collect his pension before staff discovered he was dead.
Dublin Live reported that circuit Judge Eugene O’Kelly sentenced Mr Haughney to two and a half years with the final six months suspended.
Mr Coakley received the same sentence, with Mr Justice O’Kelly noting the pair’s “callous disregard for the dignity and welfare of a dying man”.
He added that they “refused an offer” for a call for help before they “literally abandoned” Mr Doyle’s body on the floor of the post office.
A witness said his body appeared “grey coloured” as they dragged the corpse down the street.
His death generated “extraordinary public interest”, adding to his family’s emotional trauma.
Reading a victim impact statement to the court, Mr Doyle’s sister Noeleen Dowling said the family was hurt by the actions of Mr Haughney, who had reduced her brother’s death to “a macabre spectacle”.
The judge agreed, saying: “No person should have to die in those circumstances.”
Both defendants pleaded guilty at the eleventh hour on Wednesday, July 19, ahead of a trial due to commence that day.
Mr Justice O’Kelly said that had they not removed Mr Doyle’s body from his home, he would have “died peacefully in his bed”.
