Courts / Dublin / Report

Sentencing of serial social welfare fraudster adjourned

Date
2016-05-26

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

James Maughan, 38, was identified by facial‑recognition software after a photo was taken for a public services card. He had been claiming disability benefit under his own name and had also fraudulently claimed €438 of Jobseeker's Allowance in July 2015 using the false name "Terence Maughan." The Department of Social Protection discovered the deception and the case was brought to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Maughan pleaded guilty to inducing another to submit a false application and to stealing the allowance. He has 11 prior social‑welfare fraud convictions from 2013, for which he received a six‑month sentence. At the last hearing, evidence was presented that €689 of the €1,674 repayment due for the 2013 fraud remained outstanding. The judge adjourned the sentencing to 15 June to allow further investigation of the repayment issue. The case remains pending, with no final sentence yet imposed.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sentencing of serial social welfare fraudster adjourned. Charges or matters: accept an application for job seekers allowance in a false name and stole €438 in Jobseeker's Allowance, the property of the Department of Social Protection in July 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 2015 Adjournment
June 15th Adjournment
July 8th Other
July 23rd Incident
2016-05-26 Publication

Case subjects

James Maughan

Defendant

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

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Maughan indicated that he wished to be sentenced immediately so he could concentrate on his rehabilitation.; Judge Melanie Greally had adjourned the case to today for finalisation after hearing evidence last month pending the results of urine analysis.