An Ottawa Superior Court justice has granted a conditional discharge to a woman who attacked a senior couple in their home, causing the man to undergo two surgeries for a “deep gash” on his arm.
Manon Rail pleaded guilty to unlawfully being in Thomas and Margaret Keogh’s home after knocking on the couple’s door on Oct. 12, 2022, according to the court record.
“When Margaret Keogh told her to leave, she refused and got physical with Mrs. Keogh before then pushing Thomas Keogh, who fell and sustained injuries to his arm which required an overnight stay at the hospital,” the decision said.
Rail then pushed Margaret Keogh, took her purse, and fled. The senior woman chased Rail down to retrieve her purse and then Rail left.
The court decision says that Rail, who was nearly 60 years old, was managing a rental apartment for a friend and the events happened after the tenants moved out.
Doyle noted that Rail was “apologetic and takes responsibility for her actions.”
Rail was given an 18-month conditional discharge, which means she won’t serve jail time but will be required to keep the peace and “be of good behaviour,” report to a probation officer and follow the probation officer’s recommendations, as well as complete 100 hours of community service. Doyle said that some of those hours should be spent working with seniors.
Margaret Keogh told the court that the incident “changed her life.” She said that at 81 years old, her “relaxed lifestyle has been turned upside down by this incident.”
She said she has suffered from heart issues, anxiety, insomnia, and panic attacks since the incident. She also expressed fear that she may encounter Rail as they both live in the same building.
Thomas Keogh said he had undergone two surgeries for his injuries and that the incident has affected his previously active lifestyle.
He said he has scars on his arm and has suffered psychotic episodes and nightmares since the incident.
“Their world was turned upside down and this conduct has had a serious impact on their emotional, physical, and psychological well-being. This court denounces the violence inflicted on them,” Doyle said.
The Crown was seeking a 12-month sentence, six months of which would be served under house arrest and for the later six months, Rail would need to follow a curfew. It also requested an additional 18 months of probation.
The defence was asking for a conditional discharge, saying that it was Rail’s first time in court and a criminal record would hinder her employment in the public school system where she works as an educational assistant with children who have learning disabilities.
The defence also noted that the many letters of support for Rail “demonstrate that this incident was out of character,” and that she was “well respected, well liked, and has a strong social network.”
Doyle also ordered a weapons ban for 10 years and a no-contact order between Rail and the Koeghs. As part of the order, Rail is not to be within a 50-metre radius of the couple, with Doyle saying that Rail “must be vigilant and avoid direct contact,” adding that if she sees the couple she is to “immediately leave the vicinity.”
Doyle said the mitigating factors for Rail were a lack of criminal record and the guilty plea.
“By pleading guilty and accepting the facts that resulted in the conviction, Ms. Rail took responsibility for the offence,” Doyle wrote in the decision.
“Unfortunately, Ms. Rail’s calmness and compassion, as set out in her letters of support, were not manifested that night when she barged into the home of the Keoghs, who were sitting down to enjoy a dinner together,” Doyle said.
