Courts / Dublin / Report

Welfare cheat stole €100k by pretending to be sister

Summary

Carol Clarke, a 57‑year‑old mother of five, admitted to stealing €104,431 in social welfare fraud over a 17‑year period by posing as her sister Bernadette Darcy. The theft occurred at the Phibsborough post office between February 1994 and July 2011. Gardaí discovered the fraud in 2012 when they found welfare claims made in Darcy's name; Darcy claimed she was unaware of the claims. Clarke was arrested shortly after the discovery. She initially denied the allegations but later admitted guilt following handwriting and fingerprint tests, and after staff at the post office identified her. Clarke has a prior conviction for handling stolen property in 1999. She pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing from the Department of Social Welfare. The court heard that she used the stolen money to support her family and to pay off one son's drug debts.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Welfare cheat stole €100k by pretending to be sister. Charges or matters: two counts of stealing from the Department of Social Welfare at Phibsborough post office between February 1994 and July 2011. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 1994 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 13 Incident
• 2017-05-08 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Fraud Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report