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Suspended sentence for woman who continued to claim her partner's disability allowance after his death
Summary
Ciara O'Donnell, 41, of York Street, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a two‑year suspended prison term for fraudulently claiming €10,340 in disability allowance after her partner, Kevin O'Carroll, died. O'Donnell failed to inform Social Welfare of O'Carroll's death, which was reported missing in February 2013 and found in a canal on 19 March 2013. She pleaded guilty to theft from the Department of Social Protection at An Post in Windy Arbour and Nutgrove Shopping Centre between May 2013 and May 2014, and to forging a letter in May 2014 that appeared to be from O'Carroll. The letter was a reply to Social Welfare's enquiry about why O'Carroll had not collected payments for two months; O'Donnell signed it in his name and claimed he would continue to receive payments.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for woman who continued to claim her partner's disability allowance after his death. Charges or matters: sample counts of theft from the Department of Social Protection at An Post in both Windy Arbour and Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Rathfarnham on dates between May 2013 and May 2014; making a false instrument, a letter purporting to be from the deceased man, in May 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 19, 2013 Other
- May 2013 Other
- May 2014 Other
- 2015-05-20 Publication
Why: He said the loss to the State was on "the small side" and because of this he felt it was unjust to imprison her. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: sample counts of theft from the Department of Social Protection at An Post in both Windy Arbour and Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Rathfarnham on dates between May 2013 and May 2014; making a false instrument, a letter purporting to be from the deceased man, in May 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He sentenced O'Donnell to two years in prison which he suspended in full on strict conditions.
Places mentioned
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