Courts / Dublin / Report
Woman jailed for rent supplement fraud
Summary
Sandra Kavanagh, aged 40, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 20 months suspended, for receiving €27,079 in rent‑supplement payments from September 2015 to June 2018 after she had vacated the address. She pleaded guilty to four counts of making a gain by deception. The court noted that she had collected 130 payments while no longer residing at the property, and that she had 67 prior convictions, including robbery, theft, knife production, public‑order and traffic offences. The judge highlighted the prolonged duration of the offence and the repeated dishonest acts as aggravating factors, but also considered her difficult personal circumstances, significant medical and mental‑health problems, and the impact of a 2008 accident that left her with serious injuries. The suspended portion of the sentence is subject to strict conditions, including 20 months of supervision by the Probation Service after release.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman jailed for rent supplement fraud. Charges or matters: four sample counts of making a gain by deception by receiving payments of rent supplement on dates between September 24, 2015 and June 7, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 24, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 7, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2015 Other
- September 2015 Other
- June 2018 Other
- 2021-05-20 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: four sample counts of making a gain by deception by receiving payments of rent supplement on dates between September 24, 2015 and June 7, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She sentenced Kavanagh to two-and-a-half years imprisonment, but suspended the final 20 months on strict conditions including that she remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for 20 months post release.
Places mentioned
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