Welfare fraudster used dead sister’s identity
Bridget Margaret Redmond, 50, obtained British benefits in the name of her sister, Theresa Jackson, who was just nine when she was killed in a road accident in 1971, in Dublin.
Redmond used the girl’s identity to obtain £11,370 (€16,545) in unemployment and housing benefits over a four-year period from 2002.
Redmond, who lives in Roughlea Avenue, Bromford, Birmingham, was caught after an investigation by Britain’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
A DWP spokeswoman said: “Bridget Margaret Redmond was receiving income support and housing benefit in her own name because she was unfit for work.
“Our investigation found that she was also claiming benefits using the identity of her sister, Theresa Jackson, who died in 1971.
“For almost four years Ms Redmond claimed jobseeker’s allowance and housing benefit using the hijacked identity of her dead sister.”
In 1971, Theresa Jackson died when she was struck by a car in Kilbarrin Road, Coolock, Dublin, on the evening of July 1.
At the time of the death the Jackson family were living in nearby Castlekevin Road.
More than 30 years later, Ms Redmond, who was living in England, carried out the fraud after obtaining her dead sister’s birth certificate.
She used the certificate to obtain a British National Insurance number, which is similar to a Personal Public Service (PPS) number, and was then able to claim welfare benefits.
Redmond also used the dead girl’s identity to open a bank account, obtain a credit card and a store card.
She was arrested on November 17 last year after an anonymous tip-off triggered an investigation by the serious and organised operations branch of the DWP’s fraud service.
During an interview with the investigators, Redmond, who is divorced with a grown-up family, admitted wrongly claiming benefits in the name of her dead sister.
Redmond faces a jail sentence of up to 10 years, a maximum fine of £5,000 (€7,250) or both.
The DWP said she would also have to pay back all the money she wrongly obtained.
