COWARDLY MAN WHO VIOLENTLY ATTACKED HIS ELDERLY FATHER IN HIS OWN HOME BEFORE ROBBING HIM HAS BEEN JAILED FOR SEVEN YEARS
Gary Mooney, aged 44, attacked his father William Mooney, who was 80 years old, following an incident at their residence in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, on February 7 of the previous year.During the assault, Mooney punched, kicked, slapped, and choked his father, and then stole approximately £40,000 money kept in the house as an inheritance intended for his grandchildren.
Judge Lord Arthurson, presiding at the High Court in Glasgow, described the assault as a "truly despicable crime." The court was informed that William Mooney, who passed away a month later, was in poor health with a complex medical history and required daily care.
His son had been staying with him to assist with his care.
On the day of the attack, the elderly man was in his living room when Mooney's aggression was triggered.
Last month, Mooney admitted to charges of robbery and assault causing serious injury and posing a danger to life.
Prosecutor BJ Gill explained that Mooney descended the stairs "shouting and swearing" before grasping his father by the throat.
Gill recounted that William was barely able to breathe, lost consciousness at times, and believed he was close to death.
Mooney then gouged his thumbs into William’s eyes and reportedly told him, "You will not be able to see your son when you die." He demanded to know where his father had hidden an inheritance of about £37,000, which he subsequently stole along with £3,000 intended for household expenses.
Following the attack, Mooney canceled his father's care visits for the remainder of that week and falsely claimed to be "unwell" when a carer came to check on him.
He followed the carer to her vehicle and threatened to "get her sacked".
Mooney then confined his father in the house and left the scene.
William managed to escape using a spare key, contacted a neighbour, and reported the assault.
He told the neighbour, "Gary set about me.
He has got all my money.
He has taken £40,000." William was hospitalized with a brain bleed, fractured ribs and back, and facial and chest bruising.
While hospitalised, he developed pneumonia and other complications, which led to his death on March 6.
A post-mortem revealed that he had undiagnosed advanced lung cancer, which was a contributing cause of death alongside pneumonia.
Mooney was detained after police stopped him outside his flat early that morning, and he remarked, "I hear you are looking for me." He acknowledged not getting along with his father and admitted to a prior "violent outburst." Police found approximately £16,750 of the stolen money hidden in Mooney's home; the remaining amount was never recovered.
Prior to sentencing, the court considered that Mooney’s mental health had deteriorated due to personal issues and the stress of caring for his father.
He had been held in custody since the incident and had lost contact with his children.
Mooney had four past convictions, including an assault in 2012, but had never served a jail sentence before.
He expressed remorse for his actions, stating he was "very ashamed" and missed the chance to see his father before his death.
Taking into account his guilty plea and personal circumstances, Lord Arthurson reduced Mooney’s sentence from nine to seven years.
