Courts / Dublin / Report
Friends gather repayment money for pensioner who stole €100k in benefits
Summary
Marie McMahon, 68, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 13 charges of stealing social welfare payments from James's Street Post Office between September 1, 2002, and June 11, 2014. The prosecution alleged that McMahon fraudulently claimed benefits using her sister's card, resulting in a total loss of €101,538.80. Although the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the pleas as sample counts, the court noted the fraud spanned over a decade. Defending counsel Lorcan Staines BL highlighted that friends had gathered €6,000 towards repayment and that McMahon's benefits would be reduced by €15 per week. He also cited her age, medical difficulties, and previous involvement in women's rights protests. Judge Melanie Greally, who had previously adjourned the matter to consider testimonials and a probation report, stated that McMahon appeared to have useful skills and that community service warranted investigation. However, the judge noted potential medical unfitness. Consequently, the case was adjourned to October to allow the probation service to assess her suitability for community service. The matter was not concluded at this hearing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Friends gather repayment money for pensioner who stole €100k in benefits. Charges or matters: 13 charges of stealing various amounts of social welfare payments from James's Street Post Office on dates between September 1, 2002 and June 11, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 2014 Incident
- September 1, 2002 Adjournment
- June 11, 2014 Adjournment
- 2002 to 2014 Other
- 2016-06-07 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 13 charges of stealing various amounts of social welfare payments from James's Street Post Office on dates between September 1, 2002 and June 11, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Greally said McMahon appeared to be someone who had gathered very useful skills over her lifetime and the possibility of community service warranted investigation.; Judge Melanie Greally initially heard evidence in the case in March and had adjourned it to allow her consider testimonials handed into court and to allow time for a probation report to be prepared.
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