A parish priest whom a couple tried to blackmail by claiming they had a videotape of him in a sexually compromising situation was commended by a judge yesterday for his courage in going to the Garda to put a stop to the extortion demands.
Former Romanian Olympic boxer, Petre Zsiga (42), of Seacrest, Knocknacarra, Galway, and his Irish wife, Margaret Zsiga (30), admitted at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to blackmailing Fr Brendan Lawless, parish priest of Portumna, by demanding €24,500 from him with menaces over a two-year period, by using an incriminating video they claimed to have of him in a sexually compromising situation.
The couple pleaded guilty to two charges each, of demanding €14,500 from Brendan Lawless, Clonfert Avenue, Portumna, Co Galway, for the return of the alleged incriminating video recording of him which they claimed to have on a date unknown between September and October 2005.
They also pleaded guilty to demanding a further €10,000 from their victim with menaces on June 29th, 2006.
There was no mention, either in the charges or in the prosecution outline of the case during the hearing yesterday that the victim was a parish priest, until John McCormack, defence counsel for Petre Zsiga, informed the court that that was the situation.
Judge Raymond Groarke sentenced Petra Zsigna to four years in prison with the last two years suspended for three years. He sentenced Margaret Zsiga to four years also but suspended the sentence because, he said, one parent had to mind their five young children or otherwise the State would have to do so.
Passing sentence, Judge Groarke said crimes involving blackmail, extortion and demanding money with menaces were extremely rare because victims of such crimes rarely came forward to "blow the whistle" on their blackmailers. He said victims were usually very vulnerable people in vulnerable positions and that is what Fr Brendan Lawless was.
"Notwithstanding the innuendo that may be drawn from the allegations made against him, he is to be commended for doing what he did. He was extremely brave to do what he did, knowing the efforts being made to pillory his good name," Judge Groarke said of the victim.
Judge Groarke said he was utterly convinced there had been no sexual relationship between Margaret Zsiga and Fr Lawless and he told her not to be hiding behind the ruse of her children.
He reminded her that Fr Lawless was the innocent victim at all times in this case and as a person convicted before the court she possessed no credibility whatsoever.
The judge said there was no end to the couple's avarice and when the priest realised he would never get them "off his back" he went to the Garda.
"There will be people who think the worst of the unfortunate victim but they should remember he is a victim of one of the worst forms of criminality, perpetrated by people who do not care two hoots for the harm and damage they have done to him."
Judge Groarke postponed the commencement of Petre Zsiga's sentence until August 20th on receipt of medical evidence that Margaret Zsiga may be undergoing surgery next week for a bladder problem.
Judge Groarke pressed the couple's defence teams to find out who was the ring leader in the extortion bid and after some consultation, Petre Zsiga took the blame.
The court was told Petre Zsiga claimed he instigated the blackmail perpetrated by his wife.