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. 10349False statements to obtain social welfare payments · Co. Offaly

Offaly man disputes amount in Covid PUP fraud case at Tullamore court

Dumitru Beschea, a man of The Oak, Granary Court, Edenderry, County Offaly, pleaded guilty before Tullamore District Court by video link to six summonses from the Minister for Social Protection alleging false statements to obtain Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payments (PUP) while working at a meat factory in 2020. The State says it paid €7,100, of which €6,454.40 is outstanding, but his counsel disputes the value of the payments received. A hearing in mid-February 2026, reported as 18 or 20 February, saw the judge say a prison sentence was intended for 25 February, when he was remanded in custody. At the 25 February hearing he was remanded in custody to 13 March for production of bank statements, and no sentence had been imposed when the latest reports were updated.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court24 Mar
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Dumitru Beschea pleaded guilty to six summonses from the Minister for Social Protection alleging false statements to receive a benefit or allowance.
  • He claimed Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payments (PUP) while working in 2020.
Where
He appeared before Tullamore District Court by video link, having previously been remanded in custody.
When
  • The PUP claims covered the period from May 29, 2020 to November 12, 2020.
  • The plea hearing was reported as held on February 18 in one article and on February 20 in another.
Cause
A social welfare inspector reviewed all employees at Rosderra, a meat factory, and payments to him were stopped.
Investigation
  • Garda John Crowley executed a bench warrant to arrest him.
  • He was in full-time employment with Rosderra at the time of the claims.
Charges
The State says it paid €7,100 in total, of which €6,454.40 remains outstanding, but his defence counsel disputed the value of the payments he received.
Other details
  • He made eight claims, and payments were made on three of them.
  • He had no previous convictions and said he would make weekly repayments.
In court
  • He told the court he did not understand the proceedings when he first pleaded guilty, and a Romanian language interpreter assisted him.
  • The judge remanded him in custody to February 25.
  • The judge remanded him in custody to March 13 for production of bank statements.
Sentence
  • The maximum penalty for each of the six offences is a fine of €2,500 and six months in prison.
  • The judge said he clearly knew he was not entitled to the benefits and intended to impose a prison sentence on February 25, and no sentence had been imposed when the reports were updated.
27 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe accused pleaded guilty to six summonses from the Minister for Social Protection alleging false statements to receive a benefit or allowance. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe accused was claiming Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payments while working in 2020. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe accused appeared before Tullamore District Court by video link. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe accused, of The Oak, Granary Court, Edenderry, appeared before Tullamore District Court by video link. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe PUP claims covered the period between May 29, 2020 and November 12, 2020. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA social welfare inspector reviewed all employees at Rosderra Irish Meats, which stopped payments to the accused. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGarda John Crowley executed a bench warrant when arresting the accused. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe defence disputed the value of the payments the State said were received. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to making false statements to receive pandemic unemployment payments (PUP). (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to six summonses from the Minister for Social Protection. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge remanded the accused in custody to February 25. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe accused told the court he did not understand the proceedings when first brought before it. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge remanded him in custody to March 13 for production of bank statements. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe maximum penalty for each of the six offences is a fine of €2,500 and six months in prison. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said the accused clearly knew he was not entitled to the benefits. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said he intended to impose a prison sentence on February 25. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said the accused intended to impose a prison sentence on February 25. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused was in full-time employment with Rosderra Meats at the time. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe State paid €7,100 in total, of which €6,454.40 remains outstanding. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused had no previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused said he would make weekly repayments. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherA Romanian language interpreter assisted the accused during the proceedings. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHis counsel said he disputed the value of the payments the State said he had received. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe amount of money involved was €7,100. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherIn total he made eight claims and payments were made for three. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • other€6,454.40 of the €7,100 he received was outstanding. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHe had no previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Mar2026
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Offaly 'fraudster' facing jail for Covid scam says he didn't understand court proceedings

    Reports the Tullamore District Court hearings of 18 and 25 February 2026, where the accused disputed the PUP amount, and a remand to 13 March for bank statements. The sentence had not been imposed when the article was updated on 24 March 2026.

    accused, Dumitru Beschea, male, namedDumitru Beschea
  2. 24 Mar2026
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Offaly 'fraudster' will be jailed for Covid-19 scam says judge

    Court report of a hearing held on 20 February 2026, published 24 March 2026. The accused pleaded guilty to six summonses, but the value of the payments was disputed. The judge said a prison sentence would be imposed on 25 February. No earlier reports of this case appear in the existing list.

    accused, Dumitru Beschea, male, namedDumitru Beschea