Man not entitled to claim illness benefit

THOMAS Clancy of 6 Clonard Avenue in Wexford knew he was in the wrong when he claimed illness payments to which he was not entitled.

The offence considered in the District Court dated back to 2013 and the amount at issue came to €6,924.

Appearing before Judge Gerard Haughton, Clancy said that he now worked as a delivery man for a bakery.

He explained that he had been out sick for two years at the time and under financial pressure as a result.

The social welfare money in the form of illness benefit got him out of a hole at the time.

The accused said he had three children, the youngest still in school.

He had paid back €470 so far in dribs and drabs and reckoned that he would need 18 months to repay the remainder.

In the meantime, the judge imposed a fine of €450.