The trial of a Carlow man accused of bringing his deceased uncle to a local post office begins today. 

Declan Haughney (41) of Pollerton Road will appear before the Carlow Circuit Court today on charges of deception and fraud. 

He allegedly brought his uncle’s dead body to the Carlow Town post office in an attempt to claim his pension.  

Witnesses said two men, including Mr Haughney, asked to claim a pension on behalf of 66-year-old Peadar Doyle in the post office on Friday, January 21st, 2022. 

The men were told the pensioner had to be present at the counter himself, and later that afternoon, they brought Mr Doyle’s body to the post office. 

Witnesses said they were propping him up and he was wearing a woolly jumper over his face and a hat on his head. 

Onlookers in Carlow town claimed Mr Doyle’s feet were “dragging” along the ground on the short journey from his house to the post office. 

The man was reportedly unresponsive and staff began to enquire about his well-being. A member of staff became suspicious, and the two men fled the scene. 

Gardaí and emergency services were notified and Mr Doyle was declared dead when they arrived on the scene. 

The two men were arrested on January 26th, 2022. 

It is expected the prosecution will present evidence from forensic investigators and Mr Doyle’s postmortem to prove he was already dead when brought to the post office by Mr Haughney.