Judge jails Limerick ‘accountant’ over ‘sophisticated’ deception of elderly lady out of life savings

A JUDGE has jailed a man who “took advantage” of an elderly lady by deceiving her out of her life savings almost 20 years ago with “no reality of this money ever being returned to her”.

Judge Colin Daly said the accused, Sean Higgins, “egregiously used his position of trust in advising her on the investment and management of her funds”.

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The victim “invested” €73,722.66  in 2007 with Mr Higgins, now aged 74, of Ballinvana, Kilmallock.

Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard at a sentencing hearing in June that Mr Higgins had lodged €50,000 into his own back account and €23,722.66 into a high-end car business involving a son, called H&H Imports Ltd. A sum of €5,000 has been paid back.

Mr Higgins pleaded guilty to making gain or causing loss by deception contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Sergeant David Higgins.

The injured party, in her victim impact statement, said “the whole thing with Higgins has made me upset”.

“I didn't sleep thinking about this case - sleepless nights - the stress of it. I was so worried about going to court. I'm years and years trying to get my money back. If I had left my money in the bank, I'd have gotten a lot more.

“It's all lies from him. I never want to see or hear from that man again, all he has done to me. I want to put all this behind me and never, ever think of him again.   I don't want to see or hear from him again,” she outlined in her victim impact statement.

At the end of the hearing in June, Judge Daly said Mr Higgins has been making promises for almost 20 years now. 

“He will have until November to come up with restitution,” said Judge Daly, who added that Mr Higgins was “rapidly running out of time”.

This Monday, the judge was informed by Lorcan Connolly SC, who represented Mr Higgins, that his client does not have funds with him.

Judge Daly said Mr Higgins induced the victim to withdraw €73,722.66 from her accounts and to give control of those monies to him on the false pretense that he would invest these monies for her.

The judge said Mr Higgins held himself out to be an accountant but has “no such qualification”. 

“It appears he used her hard-earned and hard-saved money for his own purposes and to invest in a family business which has since failed.

“This was not a spur of the moment opportunity. It took a degree of premeditation and certainly involved a large degree of sophistication in how he prolonged the deception. 

“Mr Higgins gave ever more convoluted reasons as to the security of the funds when he knew they were gone and when he knew they were anticipated by the victim,” said Judge Daly.

He said a handwritten agreement, which was handed into court in November 2024, for Mr Higgins to sell a house to his grandson “has come to nothing”.

“Mr Higgins’ remorse may be genuine but his offers are hollow. The injured party is at a loss of a considerable sum and at this stage there is no reality of this money ever being returned to her,” said Judge Daly.

In mitigation, the judge took into account Mr Higgins’ guilty plea, his age, no previous convictions and that he also suffered financial loss.

Judge Daly imposed a two-year prison sentence on Mr Higgins.