Courts / Dublin / Report
Father-of-six to be sentenced later for social welfare fraud
Summary
Edward McDonagh, a 35‑year‑old father of six from Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 15 charges of theft of property from the Health Service Executive and the Department of Social Welfare for the period August 2008 to April 2011. He used the false names Matthew Patterson and John Paul Ward to claim €22,193.80 and €21,789.44 respectively, while also claiming legitimate disability allowance. McDonagh admitted to using the same photograph on identification cards and to having been instructed by an unnamed person on how to obtain birth certificates and PPS numbers. He also confessed to excessive drinking, cocaine use and a heart attack at a young age. Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned sentencing to December, taking into account his attempts to repay the fraudulently claimed money and ordering a Probation Service report to assess suitability for community service. The case remains pending, with McDonagh remanded on bail awaiting sentencing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Father-of-six to be sentenced later for social welfare fraud. Charges or matters: 15 sample charges of theft of property of the Health Service Executive and Department of Social Welfare, on dates between August 2008 and April 2011. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2008 Adjournment
- April 2011 Incident
- July 2, 2009 Other
- March 3, 2011 Other
- August 25, 2009 Other
- March 8, 2011 Other
- 2014-10-22 Publication
Why: He told gardaí he was not very proud of it because he had "six kids at home" . CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 15 sample charges of theft of property of the Health Service Executive and Department of Social Welfare, on dates between August 2008 and April 2011 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She ordered a report from the Probation Service for that date to determine if McDonagh is suitable for community service.; Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned sentencing to next December having taken into accounts efforts McDonagh has made, "albiet at a low level", to repay the money he had fraudulently claimed.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Fraud Stage Sentence Theft
Related court reports
- Solicitor agrees not to contact former tenant following High Court settlement
- No jail for Afghan man who laundered €45k while on social welfare
- 'I guess this is just my turn': visually impaired woman describes panic during false imprisonment by bogus taxi driver
- 'Nuisance' offender gets life for murdering 'drunken bowsie' after 'lewd requests'
- Parcel from South Africa contained €210k worth of cannabis
- Custody records of Ana Kriegel killer 'crucial to appeal', court told
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request