Margaret Bergin pleaded guilty to theft and larceny charges relating to claiming of benefit, equating to some €270,000
A judge has described as “extraordinary” and “difficult to accept” the assertion that a Co Laois grandmother who continued to draw down her father-in-law’s pension for 28½ years after his death – resulting in a loss of over €270,000 to the State – was the only person in her family who knew about the offending.
At a sitting of Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday, Judge Keenan Johnson, noting that Bergin’s husband had sat in bed when she introduced him to social welfare officials as the deceased Mr Bergin during an inspection at their home, and noting the amount of correspondence – including from Áras an Uachtaráin – sent to the late Mr Bergin, said it was “difficult to accept” that Bergin was the only person in her family who knew about the offending.
Damien Colgan SC, for Bergin, said that his client – who was the authorised agent to draw down Mr Bergin’s pension – maintained that she was the only person involved in the offending. Mr Colgan said that there was “just no other monies available”, and said his client could pay €50 of her weekly pension as further compensation.
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