Courts / Dublin / Report

Woman claimed more than €25k in allowances for dead son

Summary

Mary Hall, 70, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two theft counts for taking €26,562 in Carer's and Disability Allowances in her deceased son's name between 25 May 2022 and 30 November 2023. The son had leukemia and died in 2022; Hall continued to collect his disability allowance after the Department of Social Protection was notified of his death. She admitted she was not entitled to the payments and used the money for bills, rent and funeral costs. Hall has no prior convictions. Judge Sinead McMullan imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, suspended in full on strict conditions, including continued weekly repayments. The court noted Hall's remorse and consistent repayments as mitigating factors. The sentence reflects theft from the State, not premeditated in the normal sense, but Hall was aware of the wrongdoing. The condition requires Hall to maintain the weekly repayments.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman claimed more than €25k in allowances for dead son. Charges or matters: two counts of theft on dates between May 25, 2022 and November 30, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• May 25, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 30, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2025-11-11 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report