Ireland Man's fake passport and PUP payments case struck out at Longford District Court
Kevin Almedia Da Silva, a Brazilian man, was charged with using a false passport to obtain a PPS number at the Department of Social Protection in Ballina, Co Mayo, on January 11, 2018, and with possession of a false passport on February 26, 2021. He also faced five counts of stealing €1,200 payments under the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme, relating to Bank of Ireland in Ballina between April 6 and May 25, 2021. Garda Jim Donaldson said the defendant was arrested in May 2023 after an investigation into false PUP payments. At Longford District Court in June 2023, his solicitor said he had pleaded guilty from an early stage, and the judge struck the matter out without conviction after accepting a €1,000 donation to Lus na Gréine.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Kevin Almedia Da Silva, a Brazilian man, faced five counts of stealing payments of €1,200 each from the Department of Social Protection.
- The stolen payments were made under the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme.
- Where
- The stealing counts relate to Bank of Ireland in Ballina, Co Mayo.
- When
- The stealing counts relate to dates between April 6 and May 25, 2021.
- Cause
- His Pandemic Unemployment Payment application was found to be fraudulent, which brought the matter to State notice.
- Charges
- He was charged with using a false instrument, a passport, to obtain a PPS number at the Department of Social Protection in Ballina on January 11, 2018.
- He was charged with possession of a false instrument, a passport, on February 26, 2021.
- Investigation
- Garda Jim Donaldson said the defendant was arrested in May 2023 after an investigation into false PUP payments.
- In court
- His solicitor said he pleaded guilty from an early stage.
- The defendant had no previous convictions.
- The judge said the defendant had shown naivety and stupidity in obtaining the false PPS number.
- Sentence
- The judge accepted a €1,000 donation to Lus na Gréine and struck the matter out without conviction.
- Other details
- The reported offences were committed between 2018 and 2021 in Ballina, Co Mayo and Ballymahon, Co Longford.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatKevin Almedia Da Silva faced five counts of stealing property. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe stolen payments were under the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe stealing counts relate to Bank of Ireland in Ballina, Co Mayo. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe stealing counts relate to dates between April 6 and May 25, 2021. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationGarda Jim Donaldson said he arrested the defendant in May 2023 after investigating false PUP payments. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with using a false instrument, a passport, to obtain a PPS number on January 11, 2018. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with possession of a false instrument, a passport, on February 26, 2021. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe defendant's solicitor said his client pleaded guilty from an early stage. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe defendant had no previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe judge said the defendant had shown naivety and stupidity in obtaining the false PPS number. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe judge accepted a €1,000 donation to Lus na Gréine and struck the matter out. (longfordleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Jun2023Longford District court defendant who showed ‘naivety and stupidity’ avoids conviction
Court report on a Longford District Court hearing. The defendant pleaded guilty, had no previous convictions, and the judge struck the matter out without conviction after a €1,000 charity donation. The offences were committed between 2018 and 2021 in Ballina, Co Mayo and Ballymahon, Co Longford.
accused, Kevin Almedia Da Silva, male, Brazilian, named, non-irishKevin Almedia Da Silva