A Cork man who had claimed social welfare benefit using his brother’s name and social welfare card at Ballyhaunis Post Office on 11 separate occasions in 2009 was given six months in prison for failing to pay back money that was owed in Ballyhaunis District Court.
Patrick Ward. 31 Blueberry Fields, Broomfield, Midleton, Co Cork, who had claimed €2,2473.30 in benefits in his brother’s name, first appeared in court last March where he agreed to pay back the money; he was back in court in July when a sum of €560 was paid back, but since that date no more payments have been made. Ward failed to appear in court this week.
For the offence on April 4 2009 Judge Mary Devins convicted and sentenced him to three months in prison, for an offence on March 26 2009 she convicted and sentenced him to three months in prison to run consecutively, and for an offence on March 20 2009 she convicted and sentenced him to three months in prison to run concurrently. Judge Devins took the eight other charges into consideration.
