Woman jailed for €60k fraud

A Cork woman who ripped off almost €60,000 in false social welfare claims and used the money mainly to buy drink, rather than cars or any luxuries, was yesterday jailed for nine months.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a total sentence of 18 months but suspended nine months due to what he described as the particular circumstances of the case and the deterrent effect.

Dermot Sheehan, defending, said: “She was not buying new cars or anything like that, she was drinking a lot which was affecting her sense of right and wrong. She suffers from her nerves and found this case extremely stressful. She co-operated and would ask for a non-custodial sentence.”