A man who claimed he was only working part-time and claimed €18,784.77 in illegal job seeker’s allowance payments has appeared in court.
Patrick McFadden, aged 39, claimed to the Department of Social Protection that he was only working two to three days a week and claimed benefits for the balance of the days.
However, Inspector Morgan Mooney of the Special Investigations Unit of the DSP told Letterkenny District Court that an investigation into McFadden revealed that he was working full-time.
Between June, 2022 and June 2023, a total of €18,784.77 was paid to McFadden with an address at Leitir Beag, Letterkenny.
The court was told that McFadden had no previous incidents of any kind with the Department of Social Protection.
The accused is currently paying back the money and has already paid back €1,331 at a rate of €29.25 each week.
The court was told that the accused is paying back the money and has cooperated in every way.
Judge Ciaran Liddy said he found the facts proved and was fining the accused €250 on two of the summons.
He noted the early plea in the case and took the other charges into account.