Welfare fraud woman gets 150 hours community service

A woman who defrauded the Department of Social Welfare of nearly £40,000 over a seven-year period has been ordered to do 150 hours community service by Judge Elizabeth Dunne.

Judge Dunne said that 42-year-old Catherine Stevenson must do the community service within the next year or face a 12-month jail sentence.

Stevenson, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight counts of obtaining cheques by falsely pretending she was Ms Catherine McCabe with intent to defraud the Department of Social Welfare between October 1993 and April 2000.

"Social Welfare fraud costs the State huge sums of money. The State is at a loss and every taxpayer in the country has to make up that loss and I can't ignore that entirely," said Judge Dunne.

"It will take forever to discharge the debt and at first glance this would appear to be an appropriate case to impose a custodial sentence but this would cost the State even more money."

"The Probation and Welfare Services has deemed the accused a suitable person to do community service and they have indicated that there is work available for her. Another important consideration in this is that she has no previous convictions," she concluded.

Detective Garda John Stack told Mr Damian Colgan BL, prosecuting, that he was contacted in April 2000 by a social welfare fraud investigator and that Stevenson had come to his attention.

In 1993 Ms McCabe, a neighbour of Stevenson, moved to England and gave her lone parents allowance book to the accused for her to look after.

Stevenson continued to claim the money on a weekly basis and did so for many years without ever coming to the attention of the authorities. The weekly sums were usually in the region of £100 to £120.

She continued the routine for years before it became noticed. She even received the new allowance books when they were issued. In total she unlawfully claimed £39, 257.

Det Gda Stack agreed that Stevenson did it the first time because she was facing a massive electricity bill and needed the money. After this it became easier each time.

She had massive debts and was only receiving her own weekly social welfare allowance of €180 to provide for herself and two teenage children. She was also trying to pay off a substantial loan to a money lender.

Det Gda Stack said that Stevenson had no signs of wealth and did not seem to live a lavish lifestyle. She was pleasant and cooperative when interviewed.

Judge Dunne concluded that while the weekly amounts appeared to be small they added up considerably over the years.

Stevenson was willing to have a €20 euro deduction to help compensate the Department of Social Welfare but the reality was it would take forever to pay back the money.