Courts / Dublin / Report
Pair who tried to create fictitious identity for social welfare fraud to be assessed for community service
Summary
A man and his cousin are to be assessed for community service after pleading guilty to participating in a prolonged and unusual fraud that began 11 years ago. Simon O'Donnell (43) of Swords, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to providing false information in a passport application in 2019. His cousin Winnie O'Donnell (59) of Dublin 22 pleaded guilty to providing false information to the Civil Registration Service in 2011. The pair attempted to create a fictitious identity by registering the birth of a 'David O'Donnell' in 1980, with Winnie falsely claiming to be his aunt. The birth certificate was later used in a passport application that was stopped by biometric safeguards. Simon admitted the fraud was 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 the signature on the form. The court heard that Simon had no previous convictions for deception offences, while Winnie had eight summary convictions for theft and fraud.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pair who tried to create fictitious identity for social welfare fraud to be assessed for community service. 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 Other
- November 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-02-12 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: Having heard the facts of the case yesterday, Judge Nolan adjourned the case overnight to consider his sentence.
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: Having heard the facts of the case yesterday, Judge Nolan adjourned the case overnight to consider his sentence.
Places mentioned
Topics
Fraud Stage Charge Or Pretrial Theft
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