Rough justice in our courts for the poor

A judge has sentenced a Cork woman, who “ripped off almost €60,000 in false social welfare claims” to 18 months in jail with half suspended because of what he described as “the particular circumstances of the case and also the deterrent effect”.

She will pay a high price for her offence, but the €60,000 fades into insignificance compared to the hundreds of millions misappropriated by those in the banking sector who are unlikely to see the inside of a jail.

If her residential address had been in a prestigious neighbourhood like Dublin 4 or Dalkey, would she have been apprehended and sentenced?