Courts / Dublin / Report

Sisters avoid jail for falsely claiming direct provision payments

Date
2023-02-08

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Two sisters, Hala Salman Alaabsali (39) and Raghad Salaman Alaabsali (29), were sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for fraudulently claiming Direct Provision payments totalling just over €10,000. Both pleaded guilty to making false statements to obtain weekly payments of about €38, accommodation and meals, which they were not entitled to as EU citizens. Each received a suspended 16‑month sentence and a 16‑month good‑behaviour order. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as an unusual form of criminal behaviour but noted the sisters had no prior convictions and were unlikely to reoffend. The court heard that the sisters had repaid the money to the State, were working, and had contributed to community groups. Their Iraqi and Spanish citizenships were highlighted, and they had been granted Spanish nationality in 2012 and 2014 before moving to Ireland in 2017.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sisters avoid jail for falsely claiming direct provision payments. Charges or matters: making false statements for the purpose of obtaining Direct Provision payments; three counts of making false statements for the purpose of obtaining Direct Provision payments totalling €6,832 between August 2017 and November 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 2017 Other
November 2019 Other
August 2019 Other
August 3, 2017 Other
2012 and 2014 Other
2023-02-08 Publication

Case subjects

Hala Salman Alaabsali

Defendant

Charges: making false statements for the purpose of obtaining Direct Provision payments; three counts of making false statements for the purpose of obtaining Direct Provision payments totalling €6,832 between August 2017 and November 2019 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Hala Salman Alaabsali (39) and Raghad Salaman Alaabsali (29), both with an address at Drumcondra Road Upper, Dublin 9, were each given suspended sentences of 16 months and ordered to be of good behaviour for that period after they pleaded guilty to making false statements for the purpose of obtaining Direct Provision payments.

Raghad Salaman Alaabsali

Defendant

Charges: making false statements for the purpose of obtaining Direct Provision payments (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Raghad Salaman Alaabsali (29), both with an address at Drumcondra Road Upper, Dublin 9, were each given suspended sentences of 16 months and ordered to be of good behaviour for that period after they pleaded guilty to making false statements for the purpose of obtaining Direct Provision payments.