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.”

The judge said she had to get a jail term. “She knew what she was doing and continued doing it over a long period of time,” he said.

Carol Kurcek, aged 50, of 12 Park View, Parklands, Commons Rd, Cork, was described at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday as being apologetic for what she had done and embarrassed about the publicity attaching to her crime.

Social welfare inspector Fergus Murphy said Kurcek falsely claimed over €29,000 in one-parent allowance and, later, over €29,000 in disability allowance. She pleaded guilty to seven false claim charges, the offences covering various periods between June 2001 and July 2012.

Pearse Sreenan, prosecuting, said the total was just shy of €60,000. She repaid €2,700 in a number of recent €150 weekly payments.

Judge Ó Donnabháin said: “Realistically speaking, you are never going to get this money back.”

Mr Murphy, from the Department of Social Protection, replied: “If her circumstances change — if she wins the Lotto or something like that.”