A man who used a friend's social welfare card to claim jobseeker's allowance payments totalling €23,767 will make a further appearance in court in relation to the matter in October.
Michael Cawley of Swords, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to six sample counts of stealing from a total of 116 counts brought against him. The sample counts related to social welfare claims Mr Cawley made in another man's name on dates between 2009 and 2011.
Detective Gda Jonathan Hayes of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that Mr Cawley (36) had used a social welfare card belonging to an "old friend" called Thomas Mongan, after the latter moved to the UK.
The men met at a wedding where they agreed that Mr Cawley, who was himself claiming jobseekers allowance at the time, would sign on as Mr Mongan.
The court heard that Mr Cawley had accrued debts arising from a drugs problem.
Mr Cawley had previously pleaded guilty on a sample count, namely that, on February 20th 2009 he stole €204 belonging to the Department of Social Welfare in Malahide Post Office in Dublin contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
He today pleaded guilty to five further sample counts on dates between March 24th 2009 and May 26th 2011 relating to amounts ranging between €188 and €408.60.
In 2011 following contact from the Department of Social Protection gardaí obtained a warrant to search Mr Cawley's residence where they found the social welfare card in the name of Thomas Mongan.
Mr Cawley was detained by gardaí on July 14th after which he was interviewed and gave a full account and admission of his actions.
Pending a clarification relating to the case Judge Leonie Reynolds remanded Mr Cawley on bail until October when the case will be put in for mention.