Handyman had €98k in bank but got €80k on dole

A dole cheat with €98,000 in the bank received €80,410 in social welfare payments as a result of concealing his savings from the State.

At Ennis District Court yesterday, handyman Patrick Cass, of Moygalla, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to five separate counts of making false statements to the Department of Social Protection between 2009 and 2013, by not disclosing that he had €98,000 in his bank account.

The scam was uncovered through a joint venture between the department and Revenue code-named Operation DIRT. State officers use data to uncover people paying large amounts of tax on their savings and cross-reference these bank accounts with those receiving means-tested jobseeker’s allowance.

Last year, Tánaiste and Social Protection Minister Joan Burton revealed the department had recovered €9.5m as a result of the Operation DIRT crackdown.

In court yesterday, Susan Mullen, an inspector with the department’s Special investigation Unit in Limerick, said Cass received €80,410 in jobseeker’s allowance payments between 2009 and 2013, having declared that he had only €5,000 in the bank.

He made the false disclosure when being means-tested for jobseeker’s allowance between April 2009 and August 2013.

If Cass disclosed he had the €98,000 in savings, he would have received little or no social welfare benefit.

Ms Mullen said Cass repaid about €49,000 in two lump sums and is paying back a further €60 a week. As a result, Ms Mullen said he is now able to legitimately receive the jobseeker’s allowance having again been means-tested.

Judge Patrick Durcan described Cass’s repayments as “pragmatic financial planning”.

Ms Mullen said Cass had co-operated fully with the department and said he told her the €98,000 was his life’s savings.

John Casey, for Cass, said he had worked as a labourer and handyman but lost his job in 2009. “He had no pension and these monies were his pension. He didn’t come by these monies by foul means and there was no cleverness about it. The money was not hidden away under false names.

“Mr Cass was trying to look after himself and his wife into the future. He has worked hard all of his life and he made a big mistake not disclosing his savings.”

Mr Casey said Cass lives in a small country bungalow with his wife. “Mr Cass is doing the best he can do. In fairness, he has paid back over €50,000 and at this stage of his life, prospects of employment aren’t good.”

Judge Durcan said he required another lump-sum payment to be made: “It seems to me your client has assets that can be made available to the department.”

Mr Casey said: “Mr Cass’s fear is that he would clean himself out and the rainy day scenario is very real for someone like him.”

After consulting with his client, Mr Casey said he would be able to pay another €5,000.

Adjourning the case to April 24, Judge Durcan said: “If that is done, I will deal with this case in a particular way.”