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Community Service for €40k social welfare fraud

Summary

Owen McKeever, 63, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fraudulently claiming over €40,000 of Jobseeker's Allowance in his brother Brendan's name between 2009 and 2013. He was also making a legitimate claim in his own name at the time. The court, after receiving signed guilty pleas for 50 counts of social welfare fraud, imposed 200 hours of community service to be completed over 12 months, instead of a prison sentence of two years and three months. The fraud was uncovered through facial imaging technology introduced in 2013, which matched McKeever's photograph with one purporting to be his brother's. McKeever admitted the fraud, stating "I put my hands up," and accepted the €41,871 loss to the Exchequer. He had already paid €4,700 to revenue and an additional €3,500 to his solicitor for repayment.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Community Service for €40k social welfare fraud. Charges or matters: fraudulently claiming jobseekers allowance in the name of Brendan McKeever on dates between 2009 and 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• 2009 and 2013 Other
• 2018-12-18 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Fraud Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report