A POST OFFICE manager who defrauded the Department of Social Welfare by forging widows' and lone parents' pension books has had his sentence adjourned by Judge Kevin Haugh to allow him to pay compensation.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told that Alan Prunty began his criminal activity to cover up shortages in his post office and then found it was easy money. He used it to pay his mortgage and car loan over a number of years.
Judge Haugh told Prunty to have £3,700 by June 10th, 1997. If he could not save it from the £87 a week compensation he offered, Judge Haugh said he expected him to have remortgaged his house to do so in the circumstances.
Prunty, of Forest Drive, Dublin, pleaded guilty to six sample charges of defrauding the Department of Social Welfare on dates from 1990 to 1994. He had no previous convictions.
Det Sgt Michael Clifford told Mr Hugo Hynes, prosecuting, that a total of £4,403 was involved in the sample charges. When he searched Prunty's house he found £700 and a pension book in the name of a widow who had died in 1989. Some of the other books Prunty forged were for people who had gone abroad. The matter came to light following complaints to the Department.
At first Prunty denied any involvement but when arrested in January 1995 he made a statement of admission. Det Sgt Clifford agreed with his defence counsel, Mr Michael Ryan, that he did not consider Prunty posed a threat to the community in the future.
Prunty apologised to his employers and the court for his offence. He also offered £87 a week compensation from his present earnings as a hackney driver.