Man Jailed For Preventing Neighbour's Burial

A 24-year-old man has been jailed for a year after he prevented the burial of his neighbour whose body lay undiscovered in her west Belfast home.

Robert Sharkey appeared at Belfast Crown Court, sitting in Downpatrick, on charges linked to his neighbour Marie Conlon (68).

Mrs Conlon's remains were discovered in an extreme state of decomposition in her bedroom at her home in Larkspur Rise in October, after family members raised the alarm.

Knowing that his neighbour had died, Mr Sharkey stole cash and her bank card, which he then used fraudulently online for two years to order the same nine-inch pepperoni and anchovy pizza and two tins of juice for delivery from Dominos.

He had lived in the flat above Mrs Conlon for around five years and continued to pay her rates bill after she died to avoid his crimes being detected.

Mr Sharkey earned the nickname 'fish guy' for his order that he placed everyday between 4pm and 6pm, which took almost £6 thousand from Mrs Conlon's savings. He ensured that her rates bill was paid to avoid detection.

Handing him a two-year sentence, which will be divided into 12 months in custody followed by 12 months on licence, Judge Piers Grant told the 24-year-old that his criminal behaviour was both wicked and an outrage to any decent-thinking person.



(JG/MH)