2016-10-28
Former women's rights campaigner used sister's social welfare card to steal over €100k
Stage: Sentence
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Credit: Collins) By Sonya McLean and Fiona Ferguson A Dublin pensioner who stole over €100,000 by using her sister's social welfare card to fraudulently claim benefits has avoided jail on condition she carries out 240 hours community service. At the original sentence hearing Garda Richard Pender accepted that McMahon had one son, who she said was trouble as a child and that she was forced to pay out drug debts on his behalf on more than 20 occasions.; The case was adjourned to June when Mr Staines told the court that friends of McMahon had become aware of the case due to the media attention and had gathered €6,000 towards repayment of the money stolen.