Case No. 2708Theft (fraudulent claiming of social welfare benefits – one-parent allowance and rental allowance) · Co. Dublin · 2 Dec 2017
Maria Stefan given 240 hours community service for falsely claiming €18,000 in social welfare benefits
Maria Stefan, 33, of Mulhuddart, Dublin, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of two years and three months in prison for fraudulently claiming €18,045.60 in one-parent and rental allowances between December 2017 and December 2018. Judge Orla Crowe noted aggravating features including the loss to the Exchequer and Stefan's 10 previous convictions, but accepted the defence that the money was spent on necessities for her five children.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced16 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMaria Stefan pleaded guilty to theft of one-parent allowance and rental allowance (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe total amount fraudulently obtained was €18,045.60 in one-parent and rental allowances (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe gave the Ashton Drive address approximately 54 times online when buying and selling items (irishmirror.ie)
- whereStefan is of Warrenstown Park, Mulhuddart (irishmirror.ie)
- whereShe was claiming allowances for a house on Thomas Moore Road but was seen coming and going from Ashton Drive where her then-partner lived (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe fraudulent claims were made between December 2, 2017 and December 10, 2018 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn investigation started after a social welfare inspector became concerned in February 2021 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA search of the Ashton Drive house on June 4, 2021 identified a letter addressed to Stefan and other items (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationStefan was arrested and made admissions during interview including that the online account was hers (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Orla Crowe directed the sentence (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceShe was directed to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of two years and three months in prison (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceShe must also engage with the probation services for one year (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe had 10 previous convictions including for theft and burglary (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defence said the money had not been spent on luxuries but on necessities for her five children (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe investigating Garda agreed Stefan was co-operative and an early guilty plea was entered (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe is not currently able to work as one of her children was injured in a road traffic accident (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Dec2024Woman given community service for falsely claiming thousands in social welfare
Sentencing report: Maria Stefan received 240 hours community service in lieu of 2 years 3 months imprisonment, plus one year with probation services, after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining €18,045.60 in social welfare allowances.
convicted, Maria Stefan, 33, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Maria Stefan