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Dubliner who used friend's identity to steal over €100k in social welfare benefits gets 18 months
Summary
Noel Ward, 59, of Ballymun, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for fraudulently claiming over €109,000 in social welfare benefits between May 2008 and August 2019. Ward pleaded guilty to two charges of using a false instrument, including a driving licence, and six counts of theft from the State. The court heard that Ward used the identity of his late friend, Patrick Rooney, to claim benefits such as Jobseekers' Allowance and Disability Benefit, while also working under Rooney's name to claim additional allowances in his own name. Judge Orla Crowe described the conduct as a deliberate and sophisticated fraud. Considering mitigating factors, including Ward's status as a sole carer and his repayment of all but €15,000 of the stolen funds, the judge set a headline sentence of five years. She imposed a term of three years, suspending the final 18 months. Ward is required to repay the remaining €15,000 to the State within four years. The matter was finalised with this custodial sentence and suspended portion.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dubliner who used friend's identity to steal over €100k in social welfare benefits gets 18 months. Charges or matters: two charges of using a false instrument, including a driving licence, and six counts of theft from the State, on dates between May 2008 and August 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 2008 Other
- August 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2012 Other
- August 2018 Other
- March 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2018 Incident
- 2024-11-20 Publication
Why: Counsel said Ward has taken out a loan of €15,000 while his partner has taken out a loan of €5,000 in order to repay the State. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: two charges of using a false instrument, including a driving licence, and six counts of theft from the State, on dates between May 2008 and August 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She set a headline sentence of five years before she imposed a term of three years. Judge Crowe suspended the final 18 months of the sentence having take into account other mitigating factors including the fact that Ward has repaid all but €15,000 of the total cash he had stolen from "the public purse".
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