Psychic Medium Denies Deceiving Two People Out Of €10,200 In A Session
General News
Friday 12th, May 2023
Debbie Pagot of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin has pleaded not guilty to two counts of dishonestly and by deception of making James Byrne and Maria Byrne to give two different amounts of cash that amounted to €10,200.
In evidence, James Byrne told Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting that he, his sister Maria and their mother lived together at Glendhu Road, Cabra, Dublin. He said they got to know Ms. Paget as she was a carer for a neighbor.
On one interaction Ms. Paget is reported by Mr. Byrne to have invited him to "a reading" and Mr. Byrne said he thought it was a fortune telling and that he might find out about his fortune.
Mr. Byrne said that Ms. Paget told him during the 'fortune telling' session that he might be touched on the shoulder by his late brother or father during the session, Mr. Byrne went on to tell the jury, "I said to myself, could this be true; but I never felt anything".
Mr. Byrne said Ms. Paget talked about his father and then she said,
The next day Ms. Paget is reported to have came to Mr. Byrne's house as at this stage she was acting as a home carer for his sister, who was recuperating from an accident. He said he was thinking to himself, "Do I have to give her the money?".
He said that Ms. Paget asked him, "When are you getting the money", and reportedly told him, "If you don't, it will be a sin and the devil will get you."
Following this interaction with Ms. Paget, Mr. Byrne organised a withdrawal of €13,000 and the next day gave an envelope with €10,000 in it to Ms. Paget.
Mr Bynre told the jury "I believed my father told her to tell me to give her the money, that's what I believed".
When questioned, Ms Paget told gardai that she was publicly known as a "psychic medium" which meant that she could "see beyond the veil" and communicate with the dead. She said she had offered this service to people for 40 years and had "never charged a penny" to anyone for it.
Asked if she had ever "got messages from the dead looking for money" she told Gardaí, "no, sure what use is money to you when you’re dead?". She denied that she ever did "a reading" for the Byrnes and denied that she got any money from either of them.
"Are you winding me up? 10,000 for a reading? That's a lie...is this a joke?" she told Gardaí. She said she never asked either complainant for money.
The trial continues.
In evidence, James Byrne told Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting that he, his sister Maria and their mother lived together at Glendhu Road, Cabra, Dublin. He said they got to know Ms. Paget as she was a carer for a neighbor.
On one interaction Ms. Paget is reported by Mr. Byrne to have invited him to "a reading" and Mr. Byrne said he thought it was a fortune telling and that he might find out about his fortune.
Mr. Byrne said that Ms. Paget told him during the 'fortune telling' session that he might be touched on the shoulder by his late brother or father during the session, Mr. Byrne went on to tell the jury, "I said to myself, could this be true; but I never felt anything".
Mr. Byrne said Ms. Paget talked about his father and then she said,
"Your father said you are to give me €10,000."
"She didn't give any reason. I believed my father was telling me to give her €10,000,"
The next day Ms. Paget is reported to have came to Mr. Byrne's house as at this stage she was acting as a home carer for his sister, who was recuperating from an accident. He said he was thinking to himself, "Do I have to give her the money?".
He said that Ms. Paget asked him, "When are you getting the money", and reportedly told him, "If you don't, it will be a sin and the devil will get you."
Following this interaction with Ms. Paget, Mr. Byrne organised a withdrawal of €13,000 and the next day gave an envelope with €10,000 in it to Ms. Paget.
Mr Bynre told the jury "I believed my father told her to tell me to give her the money, that's what I believed".
When questioned, Ms Paget told gardai that she was publicly known as a "psychic medium" which meant that she could "see beyond the veil" and communicate with the dead. She said she had offered this service to people for 40 years and had "never charged a penny" to anyone for it.
Asked if she had ever "got messages from the dead looking for money" she told Gardaí, "no, sure what use is money to you when you’re dead?". She denied that she ever did "a reading" for the Byrnes and denied that she got any money from either of them.
"Are you winding me up? 10,000 for a reading? That's a lie...is this a joke?" she told Gardaí. She said she never asked either complainant for money.
The trial continues.
