Courts / Dublin / Report

Grandmother worked under assumed name while fraudulently claiming social welfare

Date
2017-12-22

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Annette McCluskey and Edward McCluskey pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges of stealing adult dependent allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Annette McCluskey admitted to three representative counts of stealing payments at Pearse Street Post Office between July 2004 and March 2013, and using a PPS number in the name of Jacqueline Hayden at SIPTU College on July 15, 2005. Edward McCluskey pleaded guilty to sample counts of stealing the same allowance between July 2004 and March 2012, and concealing that Annette McCluskey was employed at the Social Welfare Office on June 21, 2005. The prosecution alleged the couple collected €72,482 over 11 years while Annette McCluskey worked under an assumed name. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the matter to consider the significant amount of documents and testimonials handed up. The couple was remanded on continuing bail until next February. No sentence or final disposal was recorded at this procedural stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Grandmother worked under assumed name while fraudulently claiming social welfare. Charges or matters: three representative counts of stealing adult dependent allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs at Pearse Street Post Office, Pearse Street, Dublin on dates between July 2004 and March 2013; using a PPS number in the name of Jacqueline Hayden at SIPTU College, Canal House, South Circular Road, Dublin on July 15, 2005; sample counts of stealing adult dependent allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs also at Pearse Street Post Office on dates between July 2004 and March 2012; concealing that Annette McCluskey was employed at the Social Welfare Office, Tara Street, Dublin on June 21, 2005. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

July 2004 Hearing Or Sentence
March 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
July 15, 2005 Other
March 2012 Other
June 21, 2005 Other
April 2015 Other
2017-12-22 Publication

Why: Garda Ian Abbey said Annette McCluskey later revealed that she took on work as a cleaner and home helper under another name because of her husband's alcohol issues and her debts to money lenders. CNI source report

Case subjects

Annette McCluskey

Defendant

Charges: three representative counts of stealing adult dependent allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs at Pearse Street Post Office, Pearse Street, Dublin on dates between July 2004 and March 2013; using a PPS number in the name of Jacqueline Hayden at SIPTU College, Canal House, South Circular Road, Dublin on July 15, 2005 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Edward McCluskey

Defendant

Charges: sample counts of stealing adult dependent allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs also at Pearse Street Post Office on dates between July 2004 and March 2012; concealing that Annette McCluskey was employed at the Social Welfare Office, Tara Street, Dublin on June 21, 2005 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge O'Connor adjourned the matter to consider the "significant" amount of documents and testimonials handed up to her.