Woman accused of drawing €271,000 pension payments of dead man

A woman who is accused of drawing €271, 046 in pension payments for a dead man over three decades has been sent forward for trial. 

Margaret Bergin, 69, of Fairfield, Mountrath was served with the book of evidence at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

The offences are alleged to have happened between December 31, 1993 and February 25, 2022 and relate to the State pension of a John Bergin.  

A previous court sitting was told the pension was being drawn for a man who would have been 110, had he been alive. 

Garda Sergeant Michael Tarpey said he served the book of evidence on the defendant in the body of the court. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the book of evidence contains 15 charges. 

“There are 10 counts of theft and five counts of larceny,” he said. 

He said the DPP has directed the woman be sent forward to the next settings of Portlaoise Circuit Court sitting on October 24.

Solicitor Philip Meagher applied for legal aid for his client. He said the defendant was in receipt of the State pension. 

“She would be a joint home owner,” he conceded.

However, Mr Meagher said “she wouldn’t have any savings.”

Given the serious nature of the charges he requested legal aid for two barristers for the defence.

Sgt Kirby said it was allegedly a large sum. In total, he said the amount was €271,046. 

Judge Andrew Cody agreed to assign two counsel. He sent the case forward to the next sittings of Portlaoise Circuit Court sitting on October 24.