Courts / Meath / Report

Serial fraudster gets suspended sentence for stealing welfare payments

Summary

Bernard Norton, 49, from Newrath View, Kells, Co Meath, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended two‑year imprisonment for fraudulently claiming €15,854.70 in Jobseekers Allowance in his own name and in his brother Robert's name between 2013 and 2015. He also pleaded guilty to six counts of theft at Killinard Post Office and deception at the same address. The fraud was uncovered when a photograph taken during a Public Services Card application matched a photo of Robert Norton, who had been working in the UK the whole time. Norton had previously been convicted of stealing over €200,000 from a financial institution in 2001‑2002 and of stealing about €35,000 from another employer in 2016, for which he received a two‑year custodial sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial fraudster gets suspended sentence for stealing welfare payments. Charges or matters: deception at the same address on dates between November 19, 2013 and June 30, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• November 25, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• June 30, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 19, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• June 30, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• January 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2001 and 2002 Other
• 2013 and 2015 Other
• 2021-03-09 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Fraud Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report