A Leaving Cert student who collected almost €8,000 in social welfare payments using his brother’s identity has been ordered to pay back the entire sum.
Daryl Doran, who was 18 at the time, was paid €188 in jobseeker’s benefit on a weekly basis for almost a year using his older brother’s social security card. His brother Peter was in prison at the time. Judge Patrick McCartan ordered that all of the money must be repaid and noted that Doran had “stolen from all of us”.
Doran (21), Leighlin Road, Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of theft at Sundrive Shopping Centre and one count of attempted theft at Bishop’s Square social welfare office between May 2010 and March 2011.
Garda Dermot English told Paul Carroll, prosecuting, that suspicions of fraud were raised following a routine check by Patricia Hughes in the Department of Social Protection.
Ms Hughes noticed that someone named Peter Doran appeared to be collecting social welfare weekly and signing on once a month, despite the fact that he was in prison. Garda English arrested Daryl Doran on March 29th, 2011, when he attempted to sign on at Bishops Square social welfare office.
The court heard that Doran collected €7,940 in total and none of the money had been recovered since his arrest.
Leo Mulrooney said his client had spent €820 on a gym instructor course and used some money to pay for travel costs and books. His client was now working in a shop and he handed in a number of character references, including one from the manager of Drimnagh Celtic FC confirming that Doran was captain of the under-21 team.
Mr Mulrooney apologised on Doran’s behalf and said his client now had a better insight into why this was a serious offence considering the economic situation.
Mr Mulrooney said Doran could afford to pay back €25 a week and Judge McCartan ordered that he start repaying the debt from next Friday. He imposed an 18-month sentence, suspended for three years.