Sandra Moneme receives fully suspended sentence for using false name to claim welfare

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

Sandra Moneme was given a 20-month sentence, suspended in full on conditions, after pleading guilty to providing a false instrument at an Intreo centre in Dublin 1 on November 26, 2019. The court heard she had used an alias to obtain a PPS number and claimed €6,775 in social welfare benefits under that name.

Judge Martin Nolan said Moneme’s attempt to avoid identification over her immigration status was serious. In sentencing, he took account of her lack of previous convictions, guilty plea and cooperation with gardaí. Her defence counsel said she had regularised her immigration status and was repaying the money, although she had been entitled to the benefits apart from using a different name.