Courts / Dublin / Report
'Devious' fraudster caught claiming dead brother's invalidity pension
Summary
Gary Dunne, aged 42, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fraudulently claiming his dead brother's invalidity pension between September and October 2021, totalling €26,820. The fraud was uncovered after a letter questioned whether the deceased's benefits could be claimed at a local post office, despite the Department of Social Protection having already processed the death certificate and funeral payments. A meeting on 4 October 2021 identified Dunne as the claimant. Gardaí searched his home but found no evidence. Dunne has no prior convictions, but has drug and alcohol issues. He is a father of three and has offered to raise funds to reimburse the State, estimating up to €3,000 in four to six weeks. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as "devious" and "insidious," noted Dunne's guilty plea and cooperation, and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence fully suspended.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Devious' fraudster caught claiming dead brother's invalidity pension. Charges or matters: claiming the pension fraudulently on dates between September 2021 and October 2021. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 4, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-02-15 Publication
Why: " "The loss to the State is not the greatest and therefore I'm not going to imprison Mr Dunne principally because he has a pretty good past record," said the judge, adding that if a higher amount had been fraudulently claimed, the sentence may have been different. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: claiming the pension fraudulently on dates between September 2021 and October 2021 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He noted that the loss to the State "is probably not on the higher end." "The loss to the State is not the greatest and therefore I'm not going to imprison Mr Dunne principally because he has a pretty good past record," said the judge, adding that if a higher amount had been fraudulently claimed, the sentence may have been different. Judge Nolan imposed a two and a half year prison sentence on Dunne, but suspended it in its entirety.; He adjourned the case overnight to consider it.
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