Face tech identifies man with two PPS numbers

Facial recognition technology used by the Department of Social Protection and Family Affairs detected an Iraqi national had PPS numbers in two different names in Ireland.

Hiadar Alnoor, aged 39, with an address at Elm Park, Wilton, Cork, yesterday pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining a PPS number in the name of Heyder Karrar Alowsawi at the Department of Social Protection and Family Affairs at the Intreo Centre, Kings Inns St, Dublin, on March 15, 2013.

Det Garda Kevin Heffernan, on secondment of the department, told Cork District Court yesterday the case related to the obtaining of a second PPS number.

The offence was detected on May 18 last year when a routine examination under facial recognition technology, at the department, showed a matching face with a different set of identification details on the system. The face, it emerged, had shown on the national system in Dublin and in Cork.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer said he had spoken to the defendant for an hour and could not establish any advantage accruing to him in having two PPS numbers.

Det Garda Heffernan agreed, other than the existence of the second number, there was no fraudulent activity and no loss to the state.

However, the offence carries a maximum fine of €1,500 and/or six months in prison. The accused had no previous convictions.

It was confirmed the defendant had changed his name by deed poll in the UK. Mr Buttimer said the defendant had been considering seeking asylum in the UK but had some concerns about people in Iraq tracing his name.

Mr Buttimer said it was reassuring for people in Ireland to know the system for facial recognition was picking up such matters effectively. “There was never any intention to benefit fraudulently from this,” he said.

Judge Olann Kelleher remarked: “If he had used his [second] PPS number he would be in jail today.” He fined the accused €500.