A sixty-year-old man who fraudulently cashed in a number of social welfare cheques, with a total value of over €1,100 appeared before Kilkenny District Court last week.
Jim Proctor, with an address at John Street, Kilkenny pleaded guilty to making gain or causing loss by deception on six separate occasions in May and June 2007.
The offences occurred at Nolan’s Jewellers, High Street on May 24 and at the Playright, Kieran Street on May 26, May 30 and June 16. He also pleaded guilty to offences at O’Connor’s Jewellers, High Street on June 6 and at In Focus Opticians, Rose Inn Street on June 16.
Inspector Aidan Brennan told the court that the defendant reported the loss of his disability book to the social welfare office on April 23, 2007 and received the funds to compensate for this loss. However, when he received his book he cashed in the cheques amounting to a total amount of €1,114.80.
Mr Proctor’s solicitor Michael Lanigan told the court that his client was in receipt of disability for the last five years and had a book which entitled him to cash in his payment orders at a Post Office only.
Mr Lanigan said that his client, who has no previous convictions was in financial difficulty and cashed the payments to pay back some debts.. “He persuaded various persons to cash disability payments and got hold of money which isn’t payable at any other location other than at a post office,” he explained.
“He was drinking heavily at the time and was staying at the Good Shepherd Hostel but is now living in private rented accommodation and working on a scheme with SOS,” he added.
Mr Lanigan also told the court that it was the business people who cashed in the cheques who were at a loss, and not the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
Judge William Harnett requested a Probation Officer’s Report and adjourned the case until May 19.
