Woman claiming jobseeker’s allowance had hidden assets of €95,913

A woman who accommodated Irish language students in the Gaeltacht had hidden assets of €95,913 when she claimed Jobseeker’s allowance totalling €27,696.34, a court heard on Tuesday.

Mother-of-three Brid Ferry, in her 60s, of Lower Cnoc Fola, Brinaleck, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty to six summonses of making false statements to get the Jobseekers' allowance on dates between June 9, 2010, and May 2, 2014.

Dungloe District Court heard that most of the money in her assets came from an Irish language school.

Department of Social Protection inspector Mary McGovern told Judge Paul Kelly that when Ms Ferry made her application for Jobseekers' allowance she said that neither she nor her husband had money in any financial institution.

She also said she had no income from any form of self- employment.

Later, a data exchange between the Revenue and the Department of Social Protection on DIRT tax showed the assets owned by Ms Ferry.

Ms McGovern said a lump sum of €20,000 had already been paid back to the Department. Additional weekly repayments left €6822.14 outstanding.

Defence solicitor Sean Boner said the Department agreed to accept a lump sum.

His client was in receipt of social welfare and was paying back €28.20 per week towards the remainder.

Judge Kelly imposed a fine of €250 on one of the summonses and took into account the remaining five.

He said he based his decision on a substantial amount having been repaid and the remainder was being met through an ongoing weekly repayment.