Courts / Cork / Report
Suspended sentence for "elaborate" social welfare fraud too lenient
Summary
John Stokes, aged 30, was found guilty of 343 counts of theft related to a sophisticated social welfare fraud that spanned from April 2008 to December 2013. He had originally received a wholly suspended four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence from Judge Michael O'Shea on 30 June 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued that the sentence was unduly lenient, and the Court of Appeal agreed. Judge Patrick McCarthy, sitting with Judges George Birmingham and John Hedigan, imposed an 18‑month custodial term, with the remainder of the four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence suspended. The fraud involved €55,000 in Jobseekers Allowance and €47,000 in Rent Allowance, and Stokes had rented a house in Sallins, Co. Kildare, to facilitate the scheme. He had also provided €4,000 in restitution and an additional €2,000 through withheld child allowance, and was paying €28 a week in restitution from social welfare payments.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for "elaborate" social welfare fraud too lenient. Charges or matters: 343 counts of theft committed between April 2008 and December 2013; a number of sample counts on the basis that the remainder would be taken into account. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- April 2008 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 30, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-07-20 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: 343 counts of theft committed between April 2008 and December 2013; a number of sample counts on the basis that the remainder would be taken into account (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Stokes was given a wholly suspended four-and-a-half year sentence by Judge Michael O'Shea on June 30, 2017. Mr Justice McCarthy, who sat with President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Hedigan, resentenced Stokes to four-and-a-half years imprisonment with all but the final 18 months suspended.
Places mentioned
- Old Tower Crescent
- Tower
- Nass Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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