Courts / Dublin / Report
Trial of man accused of using his dead brother's identity for social welfare fraud collapses
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel Ellis, aged 74, pleaded not guilty to 48 counts of social welfare fraud for claiming over €46,000 in pension payments between June 2006 and July 2010. The State alleged he was using his dead brother James Ellis's identity, while Ellis insisted he was James. When asked if he was Noel Ellis, he answered "No." After one day of evidence, the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi on all counts, effectively dismissing the indictment. Patrick Ellis, a brother of the accused, testified about family dynamics, noting that Noel and James rarely attended family events and that Noel did not attend James's funeral in London in 1997. Garda David Redmond reported that a complaint in February 2010 led to Noel's arrest and a search of his home, where a birth certificate for Noel and documents in James's name were seized.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Trial of man accused of using his dead brother's identity for social welfare fraud collapses. Charges or matters: 48 counts of social welfare fraud carried out between June 2006 and July 2010. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- June 2006 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2010 Incident
- June 5, 1942 Incident
- 2014-11-11 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Applicant
Charges: 48 counts of social welfare fraud carried out between June 2006 and July 2010 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
Fraud Stage Charge Or Pretrial
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