HAUGHNEY WALKS FREE FROM JAIL THIS WEEK

Addict dragged uncle’s body to post office

- PAUL HEALY

A MAN who dragged his uncle’s body into a post office to try and take his pension will walk free from prison this week.

Just last week, Declan Haughney was sentenced to two years in jail and six months suspended for attempted deception.

However, he will be freed by the end of this week due to time already served and remission.

Haughney, 41, who has 55 previous convictions, and his pal Gareth Coakley dragged Peadar Doyle to Hoseys Post Office in Carlow in a brazen attempt to claim his weekly pension of €246 in January 21 last year.

It is understood Haughney was moved from Dublin’s Wheatfield Prison to the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise last week and he will be a free man by Friday.

Haughney’s uncle Peadar, 66, who lived with his nephew, was declared dead in the post office.

Shocking CCTV was played at the Circuit Criminal Court in Carlow showing the pair dragging him along the street and into the premises in front of other customers. The court also heard evidence of how a witness who dialled 999 stated she believed Mr Doyle was dead before even making it to the post office.