Extended family suspected of defrauding state of €1m

GARDAÍ and social welfare inspectors have pounced on an extended family suspected of fraudulently claiming over €1 million from the state.

Investigations suggest up to 16 members of a settled Traveller family have claimed a range of benefits averaging €50,000 a year.

In a statement, a Garda spokesman said: “As part of an ongoing investigation into fraudulent welfare claims, detectives from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and Inspectors from the Department of Social Protection searched a number of houses in the north and west Dublin areas this morning.”