By A Correspondent

A 38-year-old Zimbabwean nurse aide, Precious Moyo, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for her role in violent burglaries targeting seven elderly people in Ireland. Moyo, who had previously cared for the victims, pleaded guilty to burglary and aggravated burglary offenses between June and September 2023 .

Moyo’s accomplice, 20-year-old Yamen Alhamada, a Syrian national, received a six-year prison sentence for his involvement in the crimes. The pair targeted elderly individuals, aged 73 to 89, stealing money and valuable items, including a funeral fund for two sisters.

Judge Keenan Johnson described the crimes as “nasty” and “heartbreaking,” stating that they had destroyed the victims’ sense of security, leaving some unable to live independently.

Moyo had developed “intimate knowledge” of the victims’ households while working for a home help agency, which she used to orchestrate the burglaries.