Courts / Louth / Report
Suspended sentence for man who claimed his dead aunt's State pension
Summary
David Manning, 45, of Brighton Terrace, Monkstown, Dun Laoghaire, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 16 theft charges for stealing €46,691 from the State by claiming his dead aunt Mary Hegarty's pension. The thefts occurred between February 2010 and August 2013, with 115 sample counts. Manning had been Hegarty's full‑time carer until her death in February 2010. He admitted to collecting the pension for three years, using the money for funeral costs, medical bills, nursing home expenses and a neighbour's roof repairs. Garda Orla Meehan confirmed the thefts with CCTV footage from Blackrock Post Office. Manning informed on himself and repaid the full amount. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full, citing his self‑incrimination and restitution as mitigating factors.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for man who claimed his dead aunt's State pension. Charges or matters: 16 charges of theft of various cash sums from Blackrock Post Office, which were the property of both the Social Welfare and the Department of Social Protection, on dates between February 2010 and August 2013. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 29, 2013 Incident
- 2015-03-19 Publication
Why: (Photo: Collins) A man who stole almost €47,000 from the State by claiming his dead aunt's pension has avoided a jail term because he "informed on himself" and paid back all the money. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 16 charges of theft of various cash sums from Blackrock Post Office, which were the property of both the Social Welfare and the Department of Social Protection, on dates between February 2010 and August 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Manning to three years in prison which he suspended in full. Judge Nolan acknowledged that crimes such as this usually warranted a custodial sentence but said because Manning "informed on himself" and paid back all the money, "this is a very unusual once off case".
Places mentioned
Topics
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