Tipperary man who claimed dead father's pension warned he must repay the money

It will take a Tipperary man “decades to repay” the tens of thousands of euros in pension payments he defrauded from the Department of Social Protection over several years, a court has heard.

Sean Lynch, aged 54, who has an address at Finnoe Road, Borrisokane, appeared before Nenagh District Court to face several charges of theft that resulted in a “significant loss to the State.”

Judge Marie Keane was told the defendant's father died in 2018 and that he continued to receive his pension entitlements for a number of years afterwards.

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His solicitor, John Spencer, told the court that Mr Lynch “understands his obligation to repay” the money and is “happy for it to come out of his social welfare.”

It was outlined that Mr Lynch had "put his hands up" and had entered a guilty plea “at the earliest opportunity”. He has no previous convictions apart from one minor road traffic matter dating back to 2013.

Mr Lynch, the court heard, "wasn't living a lavish lifestyle" and lives in a house which is in a poor condition. Mr Spencer said he accepts his wrongdoing and the seriousness of the offence. He added that his client is making repayments but that it will "take decades to pay back" the money owed.

Prosecuting Sergeant Regina McCarthy told Judge Keane that the Department of Social Protection is conscious of Mr Lynch's circumstances and is satisfied to deduct 15% of his weekly social welfare entitlements to be put towards the repayment - lower than the typical deduction in such cases.

Addressing Mr Lynch directly Judge Keane said: "What you did was really, really wrong."

She continued to tell Mr Spencer that his client "needs to engage with the services for people like him."

Having formally convicted Mr Lynch, the judge imposed a six month prison sentence, which she suspended for two years subject to him continuing to make repayments to Department of Social Welfare. He must also engage with the Probation Service.

"If you do not comply, you will be back before this court with no alternative but to send you to jail," she warned him.