Dublin man who falsely claimed €23,000 'trying to repay with legitimate welfare payments'

A Dublin man who falsely claimed more than €23,000 in jobseekers allowance is trying to pay back the stolen cash with his legitimate social welfare payments, a court has heard.

Michael Cawley (aged 37) was charged with 116 counts of stealing money from the Department of Social Protection. He made the false claims every week for about three years.