Courts / Dublin / Report

Serial social welfare fraudster caught by facial recognition software

Date
2016-04-28

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

James Maughan, 38, was caught after facial‑recognition software matched his photo taken for a public services card to his true identity. He had already been claiming disability benefit in his own name and then fraudulently applied for Jobseekers Allowance under the false name "Terence Maughan", stealing €438 and an emergency payment of €100 in July 2015. The Department of Social Protection investigators discovered the deception when staff ran the image through facial‑recognition software. Maughan has 11 prior social welfare fraud convictions dating back to 2013 and a total of 55 convictions, most of them theft‑related. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the case was adjourned to next month to await urine‑analysis results. A plea in mitigation will be presented by his defence lawyer on 26 May. The sentencing is scheduled for next month.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial social welfare fraudster caught by facial recognition software. Charges or matters: accept an application for job seekers allowance in a false name and stole €438 in Jobseekers Allowance, the property of the Department of Social Protection in July 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 2015 Adjournment
May 26th Hearing Or Sentence
July 8th Other
July 23rd Incident
2016-04-28 Publication

Case subjects

James Maughan

Applicant

Charges: accept an application for job seekers allowance in a false name and stole €438 in Jobseekers Allowance, the property of the Department of Social Protection in July 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He received a six month sentence from the District Court on that occasion.; Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to next month to allow the results of urine analysis become available after hearing Maughan had a difficult history involving drug abuse.