Courts / Dublin / Report
Man who "lives a pretty miserable life" jailed over social welfare fraud
Summary
Bernard Flynn, 63, of Cannon Burke Flats, Cabra, Dublin, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for committing €25,000 of social welfare fraud. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 11 sample charges of stealing from Social Protection at River Valley Post Office, River Valley Swords, between August 2011 and April 2014. The charges represented 123 visits to the post office for job seekers allowance and 13 visits for both job seekers and rent allowance under the name Brendan Flynn. Flynn used a different PPS number and date of birth to claim the benefits. He was caught using facial recognition software when Garda Sergeant Kevin Mention arrested him on 4 April 2014 after he collected both allowances. Flynn had ten previous convictions, including breach of the peace, larceny, careless driving, public order and illegal possession of Garda equipment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who "lives a pretty miserable life" jailed over social welfare fraud. Charges or matters: 11 sample charges of stealing from Social Protection at River Valley Post Office, River Valley Swords on dates between August 2011 and April 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 4, 2014 Incident
- 2015-07-08 Publication
Why: Judge Nolan said there is always a risk of fraud in the social welfare system because the State have to serve those who need support. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 11 sample charges of stealing from Social Protection at River Valley Post Office, River Valley Swords on dates between August 2011 and April 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He described it as a serious offence but accepted that Flynn was "highly unlikely to do it again". "The court must give a message to the general population that you will pay a price if you are caught committing social welfare fraud," Judge Nolan adding that he must impose a prison sentence because of the "persistence" of Flynn's fraud.
Places mentioned
Topics
Fraud Public Order Stage Sentence Theft
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