By A Correspondent | A former carer and her accomplice have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for a spate of violent burglaries that left six elderly victims traumatised.
Precious Moyo, 38, originally from Zimbabwe and residing at the Athlone Accommodation Centre, was sentenced to eight years in prison on Tuesday at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. Her accomplice, Yamen Alhamada, a 20-year-old Syrian engineering student, received a six-year sentence. Both had pleaded guilty to burglary and aggravated burglary charges that Judge Keenan Johnson described as “callous and heartbreaking.”
‘Evil Acts’: Victims Speak Out
The crimes, committed between June 14 and September 8, 2023, targeted elderly men and women aged between 73 and 89, many of whom had serious health issues. “Lock them up for a long time because they are evil,” said one of the victims, whose home was broken into by the pair.
Moyo, who had worked for a year with a home help agency, exploited her position of trust to identify her victims. Judge Johnson stated she had “intimate knowledge” of their vulnerabilities and had abused her role in the most appalling way.
Her accomplice, Alhamada, claimed he was coerced into the crimes, telling investigators that Moyo practiced “black magic called juju” and promised him protection if he followed her instructions.
The Crimes: Violence and Betrayal
The offences included violent burglaries and the theft of over €34,000, much of it intended for funeral expenses or family savings. In one instance, the pair assaulted an 80-year-old man in his home, leaving him bleeding and terrified after piercing his arms with a concealed needle. “They went through my deceased wife’s things,” he recalled in his victim impact statement. “I’m constantly afraid someone will break in again.”
In another incident, the pair violently attacked an elderly couple in their 80s, stealing €10,000. The woman was grabbed by the throat and dragged to the floor, sustaining injuries, while her partner was threatened and silenced. The trauma forced the couple to move into separate nursing homes.
Judge Johnson highlighted the devastating consequences of the pair’s actions, noting that some victims were no longer able to live independently, and others lived in constant fear.
Sentencing and Investigation
The judge condemned the duo’s actions as “an absolute disgrace” and praised the Gardaí for their “massive and painstaking” investigation. The probe included extensive analysis of CCTV footage and forensic evidence, which was instrumental in bringing the pair to justice.
Moyo and Alhamada showed no emotion during the sentencing and did not address the court. Their sentences were backdated to September 2023.
Judge Johnson also directed that €35,000 from fines imposed in an unrelated health and safety case be distributed among the victims as compensation.
Judge’s Warning
Judge Johnson stressed that the actions of the defendants should not reflect on the wider refugee community, which he described as overwhelmingly law-abiding and contributing to Irish society. “I do not want this case to be highlighted as indicative of refugees,” he said.
The victims and their families, many of whom attended the sentencing via video link, expressed relief at the outcome. One elderly victim’s plea resonated in the courtroom: “I just want them locked up so they can’t hurt anyone else.”
Garda Response
Following the sentencing, Detective Superintendent David Nolan of the Westmeath/Meath Garda Division said: “The thoughts of the investigation team and every member of the Gardaí are with the victims of these wicked crimes. Today’s sentencing brings some measure of justice, but the impact on these victims’ lives is lasting.”
As the sentences were handed down, the community expressed hope that the harsh penalties would serve as a deterrent and provide a sense of closure to the victims and their families.