Woman given 240 hours community service for falsely claiming €18,000 in social welfare benefits

A woman who falsely claimed €18,000 in social welfare benefits has been directed to complete 240 hours of community service.

Maria Stefan, 33, pleaded guilty to the theft of one-parent allowance and rental allowance on dates between December 2, 2017 and December 10, 2018.

Judge Orla Crowe directed that Stefan, of Warrenstown Park, Mulhuddart, complete the community service in lieu of two years and three months in prison. The judge said the aggravating features of the case included the loss to the Exchequer, the amount of money and Stefan’s previous convictions.

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On Monday, Judge Crowe said it was a considerable amount of money over a period of time. However, she noted that the defence had said the money had not been spent on luxuries but on necessities.

The judge also noted that Stefan and her five children share their two-bedroom home with others. She is the sole parent of her children and, while she does have some support from her ex-partner’s family, she has no support from him.

The court previously heard that an investigation started after a social welfare inspector became concerned in February 2021 that Stefan had claimed these benefits under false pretences during the period in question. Stefan was claiming the allowances for a house on Thomas Moore Road, but was seen coming and going from another house at Ashton Drive, where her then-partner lived. A search of the Ashton Drive house on June 4, 2021 identified a letter addressed to Stefan and other items.

The investigation also found that Stefan bought and sold items using an online platform and gave the Ashton Drive address approximately 54 times online. Stefan was arrested and made admissions during interview, including that the online account was hers and that she had sent the online messages.

In total, she fraudulently obtained €18,045.60 in one-parent and rental allowances, which she was not entitled to. She had 10 previous convictions, including for theft and burglary. In cross-examination, the investigating Garda agreed that Stefan was co-operative and an early guilty plea was entered.

It was further accepted that the money was spent on essentials for her five children and that her income is extremely limited. Defence counsel told the court that Stefan moved to the Thomas Moore residence in 2015, but a third party moved in the following year and she felt she had to leave due to anti-social behaviour.

Around this time, Stefan also rekindled her relationship with her then-partner, who lived at Ashton Drive. His client accepts she was living with her then-partner and that she should have notified the Department of Social Welfare of her changed circumstances.

He said Stefan spent on essentials for her children, and not on a lavish lifestyle. Her circumstances are difficult, and she is solely responsible for the care of her children. She is no longer in a relationship with her then-partner and a family friend has provided accommodation to her.

Counsel said his client is willing to pay €50 a week to repay the money or to undertake community service, if deemed appropriate. Counsel said Stefan acknowledges what she did was wrong and the difficult position she finds herself in is of her own making. A letter of apology was handed to the court.

She has some employment history, but is not currently able to work as one of her children was injured in a road traffic accident and requires additional support. Judge Crowe directed she complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of two years and three months in prison. She must also engage with the probation services for one year from today.

“This court is going to give her a chance,” she said.

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