Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 12695Fraud (fraudulent social welfare claims) · Co. Limerick · 10 Sep 2019

Limerick construction worker given suspended sentence over €24,752 in fraudulent social welfare claims

Sean Browne, a construction worker from Meelick, Co Clare, was sentenced at Limerick District Court to a five-month prison term, suspended for two years, after fraudulently claiming €24,752.18 in social welfare benefits over a three-year period by making five false declarations about his employment status.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced15 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSean Browne is a construction worker who fraudulently claimed more than €24,000 in social welfare benefits. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatHe made five false declarations relating to his employment status. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatHe received a total of €24,752.18 which he was not entitled to. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatHe is the father of two young children and was under financial pressure. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatHe has periodically repaid some of the money in instalments of €200 to the Department of Social Protection. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatHe has no previous convictions. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatHe still owes over €16,000. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereSean Browne has an address at Elton Court, Meelick, County Clare. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereHe was working at a site in Limerick when the fraud was uncovered. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe fraudulent claims spanned a three-year period from 1 October 2016 to 10 September 2019. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Limerick District Court before Judge John King. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtJudge John King described the offence as an appalling defrauding of the people of Ireland. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for two years. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Sep2025
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Limerick construction worker avoids prison sentence over fraudulent social welfare claims

    Reports the sentencing: five-month prison term suspended for two years, with the judge noting the defendant would have been sent to custody had he not been making repayments.

    convicted, Sean Browne, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Browne