Angolan man fraudulently claimed €53k in benefits

An Angolan national who got refugee status to live in Ireland went on to claim over €50,000 in social welfare to which he was not entitled because he was working.

State solicitor Frank Nyhan said at the outset of the case at Cork District Court yesterday: “This man was claiming social welfare, mainly jobseekers allowance, between 2004 and 2009 when he was not entitled to it because he was working.

“He was using a different name and PPS number for this purpose but eventually he was run aground in May 2009. Summonses issued for him in 2010.”