Alleged fraudster Samantha Cookes willing to be deported if it saves the State money, court told

Former Tralee resident, aged 36, is accused of defrauding the Department of Social Protection of €59,094 in fraudulent claims in 238 separate payments over a four-year period

Samantha Cookes at Tralee Court in July. Picture: Domnick Walsh

The Director of Public Prosecution  (DPP) has directed trial on indictment in the case of alleged fraudster Samantha Cookes, Tralee District Court was told.

Ms Cookes appeared by video link from Limerick Prison at the regular sitting on Wednesday. She was represented in court by her solicitor Brendan Ahern.

She was allowed to address the court and said she did not wish to cost the Irish State any more money and was willing to be deported.

However this was not a decision for the district court, Judge Waters said, as she was being sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court.

Ms Cookes, of no fixed abode, is accused of stealing from the Department of Social Protection in alleged fraudulent disability claims, and two sample charges have been brought. 

Ms Cookes has been in custody since July. 

Further charges will be outlined next week and the book of evidence served, the court heard.

Mr Ahern welcomed progress in the case.

The court heard previously how she was arrested outside Tralee post office in early July when she was due to collect a weekly disability allowance worth €232.

Ms Cookes is charged that on July 12, 2024, at An Post, Edward Street, Tralee, she stole property, namely €232 in disability allowance payment issued on June 12 to Samantha Jade Cookes, and on the same date she stole the same sum issued on June 5 to the same name.

These were sample charges, with further charges, likely the court was told in mid-July.

In all, she is accused of defrauding the department of €59,094 in fraudulent claims in 238 separate payments over a four-year period, it heard.

She initially submitted a claim for supplementary welfare allowance in February 2020 on the basis she had Huntington's disease.

During the course of the investigation, it was discovered she posed as a safety consultant under the names Jane Harris and Samantha Jade Williams, providing a company name that is a variation of a currently trading company.

That court also heard from investigating gardaí that Ms Cookes had a history of using multiple aliases, variations of her own name and her mother's, to hide her identity. Her motives were not clear as she did not always financially benefit from them, it heard.

For the past 18 months, she has been living at an address in Tralee under the name Jade O’Sullivan, but was no longer welcome at that address, the court has heard.

Other aliases include Carrie Jade Williams, Jade O’Sullivan, Lucy Fitzwilliams, Jade Harris and Sadie Harris.

Ms Cookes still believes she has Huntington's disease and has been suffering from neurological symptoms since 2019, the court also heard.

Ms Cookes has been granted legal aid.

Judge Waters remanded her in continuing custody to appear on Wednesday next week, October 2, for service of the book of evidence.