Edward Doherty jailed for almost €40,000 illness benefit fraud

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Edward Doherty was jailed for 14 months for illness benefit fraud at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 30 March 2018.

Doherty, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to making false declarations to gain illness benefit and stealing money from the Department of Social Protection between 2010 and 2016. He had fraudulently claimed almost €40,000 over six years.

Doherty had previously claimed illness benefit legitimately. After becoming self-employed, he continued submitting monthly sick certificates for back pain without notifying the authorities of his change in circumstances. His barrister, Seamus Clarke SC, said Doherty genuinely suffered from sciatica and had been tempted by the money coming in.

The court heard Doherty had repaid €2,100 under a €150 monthly repayment plan and had co-operated with investigators. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence after noting Doherty’s guilty plea, co-operation and lack of previous convictions, while finding the conduct too serious for a non-custodial sentence.