THE heartbroken family of a vulnerable dementia sufferer who was abused in a home stormed out of court in anger as the carer responsible was spared jail.

The children of Janet McCaffrey were visibly and audibly upset carer Ruth Monaghan, who taunted and tormented their mother, was given just 75 hours’ unpaid work for berating the pensioner with vile abuse.

Miss McCaffrey’s daughter Christine described the decision as ‘disgusting’ following the hearing.

READ MORE: Renfrew woman convicted of abusing vulnerable pensioner at care home

Monaghan, 49, abused the 66-year-old, who has since passed away, at the Hillside View Care Home, in Nethercraigs Road, Paisley.

She shouted and swore at Miss McCaffrey as the wheelchair-bound pensioner, who suffered from crippling arthritis, struggled to eat her lunch.

Monaghan, of Haining Road in Renfrew, was so abusive towards her elderly victim that she was accused of assaulting her to her injury.

She denied any wrongdoing and went on trial over the allegations at Paisley Sheriff Court, forcing colleagues to give evidence against her.

Carer Marina Anne McElhinney told the court she saw Monaghan assaulting the OAP.

She said: “Miss McCaffrey kept repeating herself a lot. She required assistance with everything.

“Janet was asking ‘Can I get out, please?’ She was asking to leave, she was saying she couldn’t see. 

“Ruth slammed the plate down and said ‘there’s your dinner’. She also slammed the spoon down and was saying ‘Shut up, shut up’.

“I then saw Ruth grab Janet’s arm and say ‘I told you to shut up.’

“Janet was shouting ‘She pulled my arm'."

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Sheriff Tom McCartney convicted Monaghan of behaving in a threatening or abusive way towards the pensioner but found the assault claims not proven. He called for background reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing.

When Monaghan returned to the dock, he was told she still maintained her innocence.
He then placed her on a Community Payback Order, telling her to carry out 75 hours’ unpaid work in the next three months.

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