Fined €300 for forgery

A 37-year-old man who pleaded guilty to claiming money from social welfare for his mother although she was in Poland at the time was fined €300 at Sligo District Court.

Andrezej Strozik (37) of Atlantic Caravan Park, Enniscrone, pleaded guilty to forgery and using a false instrument in the Department of Social Welfare. The court heard he had been living with his mother in Enniscrone and she had returned to Poland and the defendant was lodging the money into her bank account.

Mr Edmund Henry solicitor (defending) said €5k had gone into the bank account and all the money was repaid. Mr Henry said his client’s mother had passed away on February 9 th and he was quite attached to her. He now lives alone in the caravan park.

Inspector Donal Sweeney said there was no monetary loss as the money had been refunded to the Department. The judge fined Strozik €300 on the forgery charge and took into consideration the charge of using a false instrument.