Case No. 2284Deception, theft · Co. Kerry · 28 Feb 2020
Samantha Cookes pleads guilty to €60,000 fraud over false disability claims in Tralee
Samantha Cookes, 36, pleaded guilty at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of deception and 16 sample theft charges for fraudulently claiming to have Huntington's Disease and epilepsy to receive supplementary welfare payments and disability allowance totalling €60,334.35 between February 2020 and June 2024. Judge Ronan Munro adjourned sentencing to 5 March 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted11 Feb
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports24 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSamantha Cookes, 36, pleaded guilty to stealing over €60,000 from the Department of Social Protection (irishtimes.com)
- whatThousands of euro were collected from the State in supplementary and disability allowances over a four-year period (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe total sum involved was €60,334.35 (irishtimes.com)
- whatSamantha Cookes pleaded guilty to two counts of deception and 16 sample theft charges. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe total amount involved in the fraud was €60,334.35. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCookes claimed in her fraudulent claim to be suffering from a debilitating illness that would ultimately be terminal. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe claimed the disease was life-limiting and would prove terminal, but was unable to see a neurologist because of Covid-19 restrictions. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe drew 74 payments totalling €17,747 in supplementary welfare payments. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCookes led a GP into filling out a form in 2020 saying she had previously been diagnosed with the disease. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe led the doctor to believe she was struggling to grip things, use the stairs or shower, and that her balance was affected. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCookes failed to turn up for scans and appointments ordered by her GP and did not have genetic testing for her supposed condition. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe money was taken via supplementary welfare payments and then disability allowance between 28 February 2020 and 12 June 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationShe has been in custody since her arrest on 13 July (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe deception unravelled after gardaí, alerted by department officers, obtained her medical records. (irishtimes.com)
- courtShe appeared at the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee on Tuesday (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Ronan Munro remanded her in further custody to Wednesday next for sentencing (irishtimes.com)
- courtEvidence will be given by Garda Ray Liston (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Ronan Munro adjourned finalisation of her sentencing to 5 March. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMs Cookes is of no fixed abode (irishtimes.com)
- otherLegal aid for a counsel as well as a solicitor was granted at the District Court (irishtimes.com)
- otherCookes has five relevant previous convictions for theft. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPrevious convictions included taking money from people for a trip to Lapland for children. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPrevious convictions included making a gain by deception posing as a psychologist dealing with autism reports. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCookes has been in custody since July. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Feb2025Fraudster apologises for taking advantage of doctor and Department of Social Protection
Reports the guilty plea, details of the fraud (false Huntington's Disease and epilepsy claims to obtain welfare payments), the defence apology, five previous theft convictions, and the adjournment of sentencing to 5 March 2025.
convicted, Samantha Cookes, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Samantha Cookes - 11 Feb2025Woman pleads guilty to stealing more than €60,000 from Department of Social Protection
Reports the guilty plea hearing, adding that Cookes is of no fixed abode, has been in custody since her arrest on 13 July, was remanded by Judge Ronan Munro for sentencing, and that evidence will be given by Garda Ray Liston.
accused, Samantha Cookes, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Samantha Cookes