Two women (in unrelated cases) handed in their deserted wife's benefit books to the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs because they were visiting family members abroad for a few months. But when they returned the Department said they could not get the benefit again because they had lost their "continuous entitlement". Mr Murphy found there was no basis for the Department's decision and they were paid arrears of £7,500 and £5,700 respectively.
An elderly woman in a nursing home, who was unable to manage her affairs, should have claimed a pension in 1980 but did not do so until 1996 when her family applied on her behalf. The Department would pay only six months' arrears but following Mr Murphy's intervention, it agreed to pay arrears of £31,000.
Donegal County Council allowed a developer to change the plans for a house - on the basis of which permission had been granted - in ways which, the Ombudsman said, "were so substantial as to require a fresh planning application and decision". Instead the council treated the change as being of minor significance and as not requiring a fresh application. This deprived third parties of the opportunity to object. Following intervention by the Ombudsman, "the council did agree to pay £200 to the complainants in recognition that its actions had deprived the complainants of the opportunity to object to the development".
A foster-parent had to pay £3 a week to send a child to school by bus. The Eastern Health Board agreed to pay this - but then deducted the £3 from the basic foster allowance. "The board accepted the Ombudsman's conclusion that the practice was not justifiable and paid appropriate arrears in this and other such cases."