A man who defrauded the State out of more than €22,000 was ordered to pay a total of €1,135 in fines and costs this week (February 12 ) after the court heard how he had begun to make restitution.
Douglas Shaw (71 ) with an address at Main Street, Glasson was summonsed by the Department of Social Protection after he made a false declaration on a pension application fund, and collected a total of €22,360 since 2008.
Dermot Kiernan, on behalf of the Minister, told the court that Shaw already had a pension worth £150 per week from the UK which he failed to declare, and because of this got a full Irish pension instead of a means-tested one.
Judge Seamus Hughes enquired how much the Irish pension was, and was told a non-contributory one was €220 a week, while a contributory pension was just €230.
“So if you pay your stamps all your life you just get a tenner extra?” noted the judge.
Mr Kiernan explained that the means-tested pension would be closer to €60 per week, and confirmed that Shaw had started making repayments of €30 each week, which would take an estimated 14 years to pay off.
“You’re in good health?” asked the judge of the defendant.
“I am,” replied Mr Shaw.
“Well, I won’t be here to hear the end of this case,” joked the judge.
“The position is admitted, and he knew he shouldn’t’ve. My client was fully co-operative with the Department. He says he was given advice that one [pension] wouldn’t impact on the other,” said defending solicitor, Mr Mark Cooney.
“Mr Shaw has done some service to some State,” added Mr Cooney, pointing out he had been a reserve police constable in the UK for 18 years.
“I will finalise it,” said the judge, before fining Shaw €500, and ordering him to pay a total of €635 in costs.
