Ireland Pensioner Jailed After Using Dead Brother's Identity to Claim €93,000 in Benefits
Aidan Byrne, a 75-year-old native of Wexford, claimed €83,157 in pension and fuel allowances between June 2015 and August 2021 in the name of his dead brother Anthony, who died in a drowning accident in England in 1972. He also applied for a medical card in his brother's name, claiming €10,858 in treatments, and obtained a passport in his brother's name using the birth certificate and his own photo. The false claims came to light in 2019, when he applied for a passport in his own name and passport office staff noticed the two photos were identical; the information was passed to the Department of Social Protection and gardaí. Byrne pleaded guilty to theft, forgery and using a false instrument, and on 11 May 2023 he was jailed for two and a half years at Donegal Circuit Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced11 May
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Aidan Byrne, 75, pleaded guilty to a range of fraud charges.
- Between June 2015 and August 2021 he claimed €83,157 in pension and fuel allowances in his dead brother's name.
- He applied for a medical card in his brother's name and claimed €10,858 in treatments.
- He obtained a passport in his brother's name using his brother's birth certificate and his own photo.
- Cause
- He used the identity of his dead brother Anthony, who died in a drowning accident in England in 1972.
- Where
- He is a native of Wexford who lived in England for a number of years and returned to Ireland in 2000.
- He lives in a council house in Glenties and has no means, with €16,000 in a frozen bank account.
- Investigation
- The false claims came to light when he applied for a passport in his own name in 2019.
- Passport office staff noticed the two photos were identical and passed the information to the Department of Social Protection.
- The information was passed to gardaí.
- Charges
- He pleaded guilty to theft from the Department of Social Protection and the HSE, forgery and using a false instrument.
- In court
- The case was heard at Donegal Circuit Court before Judge John Aylmer.
- Other details
- The judge said the offences were very much pre-meditated and extended over a significant period of time.
- The judge said he received a pension and did not claim his brother's pension out of financial necessity.
- Sentence
- He was jailed for two and a half years.
17 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAidan Byrne pleaded guilty to a range of fraud charges. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe claimed €83,157 in pension and fuel allowances in his brother's name. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe applied for a medical card in his brother's name and claimed €10,858 in treatments. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe obtained a passport in his brother's name using his brother's birth certificate and his own photo. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA 75-year-old pensioner used his dead brother's identity to claim €93,000 in benefits. (extra.ie)
- whenHe claimed pension and fuel allowances between June 2015 and August 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- causeHe used the identity of his dead brother Anthony to claim social welfare benefits. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe false claims came to light when he applied for a passport in his own name in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationPassport office staff noticed the two photos were identical and passed the information to the Department of Social Protection. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe information was passed to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to theft from the Department of Social Protection and the HSE, forgery and using a false instrument. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Donegal Circuit Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was jailed for two and a half years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused is 75 years old. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge said the offences were very much pre-meditated and extended over a significant period. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe received an English pension and did not claim his brother's pension out of financial need. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe lives in a council house in Glenties and has no means, with €16,000 in a frozen bank account. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 12 May2023Pensioner, 75, Who Used His Dead Brother's Identity To Claim €93,000 In Benefits Jailed
Only the headline is readable; the body is an unrendered template. The headline gives the age, the identity used and the sentence, but no place, date or court. Republic of Ireland is assumed from the extra.ie source and the euro benefits context, not stated in the text.
convicted, 75, male - 11 May2023Pensioner who used dead brother’s identity to claim more than €93,000 jailed
Sentencing of a Donegal fraud case. Not the same incident as the Laois Coppers pub case (id 12673), which concerns different offences and a different age.
convicted, Aidan Byrne, 75, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aidan Byrne