Ireland Man given suspended sentence for falsely claiming to be father of child in Cork
On 29 July 2009 a 64-year-old man falsely claimed to be the biological father of a seven-month-old boy, born to a woman from outside the country, and gave false information at the Civil Registration Office on Adelaide Street, Cork, to obtain a birth certificate and passport for the child. He pleaded guilty to providing false information and to two deception charges over passport applications, contrary to the Passports Act 2008, and cooperated fully with the garda investigation. On 1 May 2024 Cork District Court, before Judge Mary Dorgan, imposed a sentence of eight months suspended for 18 months and a €500 fine, the judge saying he acted out of kindness and not for gain. The man cannot be named to protect the child's identity.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 May
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The man pretended to be the biological father of a seven-month-old boy.
- The purpose was to obtain a birth certificate and passport for the boy, whose mother is from outside the country.
- Where
- The false information was given at the Civil Registration Office on Adelaide Street, Cork.
- When
- The false information was given on 29 July 2009.
- Cause
- The judge said the man acted out of kindness and empathy, not for gain, though she called his error a gross error.
- Investigation
- The man cooperated fully with the garda investigation.
- Charges
- The man pleaded guilty to providing false information at the Civil Registration Office.
- The man pleaded guilty to two deception charges over passport applications for the child, contrary to the Passports Act 2008.
- In court
- The case was heard at Cork District Court before Judge Mary Dorgan.
- The judge said the child's mother was able to bring other family members to Ireland after the child got legitimate status.
- Sentence
- The sources differ in wording: one says the judge jailed the man for eight months with the entire sentence suspended for 18 months, the other says an eight-month sentence suspended for 18 months.
- A €500 monetary fine was imposed.
- Other details
- The man cannot be named to protect the child's identity.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man pretended to be the biological father of a seven-month-old boy. (rte.ie)
- whereThe false information was provided at the Civil Registration Office on Adelaide Street, Cork. (rte.ie)
- whenThe false information was provided at the Civil Registration Office on 29 July 2009. (rte.ie)
- causeThe judge said the man had acted out of kindness and empathy, not for gain. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe man cooperated fully with the garda investigation. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe man pleaded guilty to providing false information at the Civil Registration Office. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe man pleaded guilty to two deception charges over passport applications for the child. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe offences were contrary to the Passports Act of 2008. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said the mother of the child was able to bring other family members to Ireland after the child got legitimate status. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge jailed the man for eight months and suspended the entire sentence for 18 months. (rte.ie)
- sentenceA €500 monetary fine was imposed. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 May2024Man 'facilitated' mother of child in getting passport
First report of this case. It gives the court outcome: an eight-month sentence suspended for 18 months and a €500 fine. The man cannot be named to protect the child's identity.
convicted, 64, male