Welfare fraudster ordered out of country
Victor Thomas, aged 34, a father of two from Zimbabwe, was ordered to leave the country by midnight on Monday after he was caught claiming more than €6,000 in fraudulent benefits.
Judge Angela Ní Chondúin told Thomas that even allowing him to remain in the country until Monday was a “long time”.
Thomas, a resident in Britain, claimed social welfare in the form of rent allowance, child benefit and single parent payments for his son Liam.
He was found guilty on three charges of dishonesty by deception at Fermoy District Court yesterday. The total fraudulent claim amounted to €6,114.50
The court heard that Thomas had been ‘coming back and forth regularly’ by plane and ferry to Ireland from Britain since last September.
“He is originally from Zimbabwe but had been living in Ireland. His partner moved to England, but he continued to claim,” Inspector Tony O’Sullivan told the court.
He claimed benefit for his son Liam, 6, who is resident in the UK, and rent allowance for an apartment at Riversdale in Rathcormac, Co Cork, said Insp O’Sullivan.
“He was claiming under false assumption that he was a lone parent looking after Liam,” Insp O’Sullivan said. “He should have notified the authorities when he left.”
Thomas’ solicitor, Ciaran O’Keeffe, presented to the court a social welfare cheque posted to Apt 4 Riversdale dated May 28 for the amount €78.80.
He said Thomas had a cheque for €2,000 to repay the State for its losses, along with a bail bond for a further €2,000. Thomas had tried but failed to present a higher amount as compensation to the court, Mr O’Keeffe said.
“He was working [in Ireland] for a while, then started a course in Cork. Money ran low and unfortunately he carried out this act,” Mr O’Keeffe said.
He said his client was anxious to get back to England to his two children, aged six years, and six months.
“He is anxious to get back. He has moved to the UK; his family is there, although I don’t know if he has any job prospects there now,” Mr O’Keeffe said.
The court heard Thomas had no cash on him when arrested by gardaí on arrival into Ireland, and had no previous convictions.
Judge Ní Chondúin said the matter was a “very serious one” and sentenced him to 10 months in prison, suspended on the grounds that he leave voluntarily and not return for two years.
“I’d prefer not to see him ever again,” the judge said. She ordered Thomas to leave the country before midnight on Monday and said even that was “a long time” for him to remain.
“If he is here after midnight on Monday he’ll be arrested,” the judge said.
