Man used garda’s PPS number to fraudulently claim Covid-19 payment

Solicitor for Lacatus, Dermot Monahan, said his client had brought the full amount of €1,050 to court to repay the stolen money after borrowing it from friends and family.

A Westmeath man has pleaded guilty to using a garda’s PPS number to fraudulently obtain Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payments totalling €1,050.

Daniel Lacatus, aged 19, appeared before Mullingar District Court yesterday after having three payments of the €350 weekly unemployment support lodged to his account in the Bank of Ireland in Drogheda.