Courts / Dublin / Report

Dutch man in €226k welfare fraud while living outside Ireland

Summary

Leendert Stolk, 50, a Dutch national living in England, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fraudulently claiming €226,701.08 in social welfare benefits between June 2011 and June 2018. He falsely submitted claims for Jobseeker's Allowance, Rent Allowance, Back to Work Allowance and Back to School Allowance while residing outside Ireland, regularly returning every two weeks to claim payments. The court noted he had been entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance while in Ireland but never to Rent Allowance. Stolk had no prior convictions and was diagnosed with Obsessive‑Compulsive Disorder. He and his family offered €2,500 in compensation. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to four years after considering his guilty plea, remorse, illness and lack of wealth. The sentence is a four‑year prison term.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dutch man in €226k welfare fraud while living outside Ireland. Charges or matters: wrongfully claiming social welfare and submitting false instruments on dates between June 2011 and June 2018. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• June 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
• June 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 2018 Other
• 2019-07-26 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Fraud Stage Hearing Or Decision

Related court reports

• Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
• Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
• Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
• 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
• Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
• 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'

Read the original CNI report