Cork social welfare fraudster used money for exotic holidays

She was initially entitled to the carer’s allowance when she lived in Cork but continued claiming it after leaving for the UK while her son cared for his grandmother

Mary O’Callaghan, who the court heard used some of the money to holiday in Barbados, Morocco and other places, was jailed for 18 months. File photo

A 52-year-old woman who fraudulently claimed €69,000 in carer’s allowance for minding her elderly mother in Cork when she was actually living in London was jailed for 18 months.

Garda John Dineen previously stated that the accused used some of the money to holiday in Barbados, Morocco and other places. Defence barrister Nikki O’Sullivan said that there was some comment on Facebook about a Barbados holiday but she said the accused woman – Mary O’Callaghan – only travelled there for a funeral of a family member of her partner who comes from there.