Michael Mongan receives suspended sentence in welfare fraud case

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

Michael Mongan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of social welfare fraud, involving the use of a false identity to claim almost €3,000 from the State over three months. The proceedings were reported on February 5, 2015.

Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended in full on condition that he keep the peace for two years. The judge cited Mongan’s guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí and the short duration of the false claim.

Mongan fraudulently claimed €2,905 under the name Robert Anthony Gavin between December 4, 2009 and March 10, 2010, while also legitimately claiming social welfare under his own name.

Sergeant Brendan Bergin told the court that a man claiming to be Robert Anthony Gavin came to Coolock Garda Station on April 14, 2010 and said his weekly welfare payments of €195 had been suspended. He produced an English birth certificate in that name and sought to have the claim reopened and receive back payments. Sgt Bergin’s investigation established that the man was Mongan.

Mongan was arrested on May 5, 2010 and admitted the fraud, telling gardaí he had used the false identity because he needed to repay a drug debt. The court heard that he had not repaid the money to the State.