Breaking: Laois woman arrives for sentencing over €270k pension fraud
The man had died in 1993 at the age of 82, while Ms Bergin continued to draw his pension.
A woman who claimed over a quarter of a million euro in old age pension for a man who would have been 110 has appeared in court in Laois for sentencing.
Margaret Bergin (73) of Fairfield, Mountrath has arrived at Portlaoise Circuit Court for her sentencing.
Pictured: Ms Bergin with her husband and son arriving at Portlaoise Circuit Court on November 1.
In total the court was told she received €271,046. 28 in pension payments in the name of her father in law, John Jack Bergin, who had died in 1993 at the age of 82.
An amateur gerontologist from Cork who had been researching the oldest people in Ireland had learned of a 110 year-old in Laois and later alerted authorities of his suspicions.
The court heard the defendant had made a number of excuses to dissuade the Department of Social Protection when they tried to visit the 110 year-old.
When they called unannounced, officers were brought to a room where a man who was fully clothed and wearing shoes was in bed. The woman told them it was the 110 year-old man but they left unconvinced.
The woman later admitted the man in the bed had been her husband Seamus, who she said was unaware she had been claiming the pension.
Pictured: Ms Bergin entering the court.
At the latest sitting of Portlaoise Circuit Court, Prosecution Counsel William Fennelly said the woman had brought a sum of €35,000 previously and now had a further sum of €40,000 in court.
Damian Colgan BL produced a booklet for the judge and the prosecution which outlined the woman’s medical and financial wellbeing. It also contained a letter of apology which was read out in court.
The defendant said she wanted to “apologise sincerely and say how sorry I am for committing this crime.”
She explained that she had minded her elderly father-in-law as his health deteriorated. In the later stages of his life a doctor had suggested he go into respite care but he didn’t want to so the defendant cared for him at home.
She said she “took his death hard” and without realising it had fallen into depression. She acknowledged that she should have stopped drawing the pension and said she was deeply sorry for what she had done.
“I beg and plead that you show me as much mercy as you can,” she asked the judge.
Mr Colgan said his client suffered with “chronic low mood” and serious health issues. He said both she and her husband are on old age pensions.
He said the woman has become socially isolated and doesn’t shop locally. “She is not in jail but she is in her own mind,” Mr Colgan said.
“Mrs Bergin and her husband simply don’t have any savings,” he told the judge. He said she had now paid €75,000.
“The best Mrs Bergin can do after that is to pay €50 per week from her pension,” he said.
Judge Keenan Johnson asked how much land the family had. He was told there was 99 acres which was farmed by their son and the land had been handed over.
Judge Johnson said he had been told that the pension money that was claimed had been spent on the family. He suggested there was a moral obligation.
Mr Colgan said the defendant had always maintained her family knew nothing of the crime. He said the land had been handed over long before the crime came to light and the family had sought to sell the land. He told the court it was not possible because the land is on a national strategic route.
Judge Johnson said he had never heard of such an inhibition of the sale of land.
Mr Fennelly said he didn’t imagine that it would cover the entire 99 acres. He said there had been €271,046.28 outstanding but now that the figure of €75,000 had been brought to court the loss amounted to €196,046.28.
Judge Johnson asked Mr Colgan what happens with the outstanding money. He noted the defendant had said the land cannot be sold.
He said he found it “extraordinary” that the family didn’t know anything about the pension payments or the “unusual correspondence from Aras an Uachtarain” particularly when her husband had taken to the bed in place of the 110 year-old man.
More to follow.