Courts / Dublin / Report
Man and cousin in 'prolonged, unusual' social welfare fraud attempt beginning 11 years ago
Summary
Simon O'Donnell and his cousin Winnie O'Donnell were involved in a prolonged and unusual fraud attempt that began 11 years ago. They created a fictitious identity to claim social welfare benefits. Simon pleaded guilty to providing false information in a passport application in 2019, while Winnie pleaded guilty to providing false information to the Civil Registration Service in 2011. The court heard that they registered the birth of a fictitious person named 'David O'Donnell' and submitted the birth certificate as part of the passport application. The passport application was stopped due to biometric safeguards, leading to an investigation. Simon claimed he did it to obtain social welfare to pay off people threatening him due to a feud. Winnie admitted there was no such person as 'David O'Donnell' but did not dispute that the signature on the form looked like hers. The court heard that the fraud was a bet to see if they could be successful in submitting the application. Both defendants expressed remorse and asked the court to consider non-custodial sentences.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man and cousin in 'prolonged, unusual' social welfare fraud attempt beginning 11 years ago. Charges or matters: providing false information in connection with a passport application on August 26, 2019; providing false or misleading information to the Civil Registration Service contrary to Section 69 (3) of the Civil Registration Act on a date between May and November 2011. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- August 26, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-02-11 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: providing false information in connection with a passport application on August 26, 2019; providing false or misleading information to the Civil Registration Service contrary to Section 69 (3) of the Civil Registration Act on a date between May and November 2011 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Remanding the defendants on bail, Judge Nolan adjourned the case to tomorrow for finalisation.
Defendant
Charges: providing false or misleading information to the Civil Registration Service contrary to Section 69 (3) of the Civil Registration Act on a date between May and November 2011 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Remanding the defendants on bail, Judge Nolan adjourned the case to tomorrow for finalisation.
Places mentioned
Topics
Fraud Stage Charge Or Pretrial
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