A man who had more than €176,000 in his bank account following compensation claims from road traffic accidents illegally obtained more than €32,000 in social welfare payments.
Mark Glenn appeared at Letterkenny District Court charged with the illegal claims fro 210 through to 2016.
Inspector at the Department of Social Protection, Mr Morgan Mooney, said the matter came to light following data matches between the Revenue Commissioners office and the Department of Social Protection.
He said electrician Glenn had stated in various claim forms that he had no capital in any bank accounts.
However, when investigated further it was found that Mr Glenn had €176,357 in his bank account.
Mr Mooney said he had built up the money as a result of two compensation pay-outs as a result of road traffic accidents and was also given a sum of money by his mother.
The 43-year-old father of three from Castledoohey, St Johnston did not think the money he had saved had anything to do with his social welfare claims, said his solicitor Gordon Curley.
Mr Curley said his client had already come to a substantial settlement with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to DIRT tax.
He also stated that all of the €32,471 claimed had been paid back in full to the Department.
Mr Curley added that his client is a part-time carer for his elderly father
“He saves every penny and is a rather frugal person and that is why he had this money,” added Mr Curley.
Judge Paul Kelly ordered Mr Glenn to pay a donation of €1,000 to St Vincent de Paul saying it was they who had to “take up the slack” to pay money to people who deserve it.