A 36-year-old Dublin man who defrauded the State of nearly €24,000 in social welfare payments has appeared in court.
Michael Cawley of Rivermeade Avenue in Swords pleaded guilty to 6 sample counts of stealing from February 2009 to May last year.
The court heard for over 2 years Mr. Cawley doubled-up his job seekers allowance.
He claimed from his own address and took a weekly trip to Malahide post office to swipe the social services card of his friend Thomas Mongan.
Mongan had moved to the UK and when the 2 met up at a wedding they agreed that Cawley could continue to sign on in his name.
The 36-year-old needed the money because he had a drug problem and had run up debts.
He was caught when the Department of Social Protection grew suspicious and contacted the Garda Fraud Squad.
Gardai secured a search warrant and found both social welfare cards at Cawley’s home last July.
He will be sentenced later.
