A civil servant defrauded the Department of Social and Family Affairs of more than €24,000 over a period of two years by making false claims on behalf of her husband and brother, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.
Norma Doyle (34), of Poppintree, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to defrauding a total of €24,580 between May 1999 and March 2002.
Judge Desmond Hogan remanded her on bail for sentence on November 15th indicating he would impose a three-year sentence on her but would suspend it if the Probation and Welfare Services find her to be a suitable candidate for community service.
Det Garda Michael Kilfeather told prosecuting counsel Garret Baker BL that neither Doyle's husband nor her brother were aware she was making the false claims on their behalf.
He said she lodged the money into her own account and that of her husband's, which was also under her control. In order to make false disability benefit claims for her husband she changed the name on genuine claim forms belonging to her mother-in-law. Her offences came to light in April 2002 and she admitted to having committed the frauds. She was suspended from work and the matter was reported to gardai.
In voluntary interviews with gardaí she said she had been "up against a wall" at the time and admitted she was "very stupid" and "should not have done it." She apologised and explained she had been in huge financial difficulties.
Det Garda Kilfeather agreed with Doyle's counsel, Shane Murphy SC, that she appeared genuinely remorseful for her offences. He also agreed she was unlikely to come before the courts or to garda attention in the future.
Mr Murphy told Judge Hogan that Doyle was willing to make arrangements to pay back the Department of Social and Family Affairs but was not in a position to do so. She was paying off her mortgage, the deposit for which she paid by taking out a credit union loan.
Judge Hogan indicated she would have to do 240 hours of community service in lieu of the three-year sentence should she be found suitable for such work.
He also asked her to arrange for authorisation to discharge the amount of €24,580 or such lesser sum as the total amount her pension would amount to at the time she would be able to access it when she reached 60 years of age.