Thomasz Pysz receives suspended sentence for welfare theft

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

Thomasz Pysz received a fully suspended 20-month sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for social welfare theft. He pleaded guilty to four sample counts of theft from the Department of Social Protection between 2019 and 2021. The proceedings were reported on 7 April 2025.

Judge Martin Nolan suspended the sentence on conditions that Pysz be of good behaviour and that €10,917 in his account be transferred to the department. The judge noted that Pysz also had a separate payment agreement with the department.

The court heard that Pysz claimed benefits using his own PPS number while working under his brother-in-law’s number and using his brother-in-law’s bank account for wages. He received €9,235.50 in Disability Allowance and €16,303 in Pandemic Unemployment Payments.

Garda Stephen Byrne told the court that the brother-in-law had not been charged and there was no evidence suggesting he was involved in the fraud. Pysz said his brother-in-law knew his bank account was being used.

Garda Byrne said a payment plan had been set up, Pysz had repaid some money and €21,814 remained outstanding. Defence counsel Luigi Rea said Pysz had mental health issues and that the theft arose from pressures and difficulties at home. He submitted a doctor’s letter and said Pysz’s marriage was over.