Ireland Case No. 2163Social welfare fraud, theft (deception) · Co. Kerry · 28 Feb 2020
Sentenced to four years for social welfare fraud in Tralee
Samantha Cookes, a 36-year-old woman of no fixed abode, falsely claimed she suffered from Huntington's disease to collect supplementary welfare payments and disability allowance totalling €60,334.35 from the Department of Social Protection between 28 February 2020 and 12 June 2024. She was arrested outside a post office in Tralee on 13 July 2024 after gardaí, alerted by social protection officers, obtained her medical records. Cookes pleaded guilty to 18 counts of deception and theft at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court in February 2025. On 5 March 2025, Judge Ronan Munro sentenced her to four years in prison with the final year suspended, backdated to July 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted11 Feb
3 reports - Sentenced5 Mar
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Cookes falsely claimed she suffered from Huntington's disease to collect supplementary welfare payments and disability allowance totalling €60,334.35 from the Department of Social Protection.
- Where
- The fraud was carried out in Kerry, with Cookes arrested outside a post office in Tralee.
- When
- The payments were collected between 28 February 2020 and 12 June 2024.
- Cause
- Cookes led a GP to fill out a form in 2020 stating she had been previously diagnosed with Huntington's disease and claimed the illness was life-limiting and terminal.
- Investigation
- The deception unravelled after gardaí, alerted by social protection officers, obtained her medical records and found she had failed to attend scans, appointments, and genetic testing.
- Charges
- Cookes pleaded guilty to two counts of deception and 16 sample theft charges at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court in February 2025.
- In court
- Judge Ronan Munro adjourned sentencing to 5 March 2025 and remanded Cookes in continuing custody.
- Sentence
- On 5 March 2025, Judge Munro sentenced Cookes to four years in prison with the final year suspended, backdated to July 2024.
- Other details
- Cookes has five previous convictions for similar offences, including posing as a psychologist and taking money for a children's trip to Lapland.
- Cookes is of no fixed abode and was arrested on 13 July 2024.
58 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)
- whatCookes claimed over €60,000 in supplementary and disability allowances over a four-year period. (rte.ie)
- whatCookes claimed a further €40,264 in disability allowances until her arrest in July 2024. (rte.ie)
- 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)
- whatCookes received 238 payments totalling €60,334 over almost four years. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe total amount involved was €60,334.35. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe led a GP into filling out a form in 2020 saying she had previously been diagnosed with the disease. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe failed to turn up for scans and appointments and did not have genetic testing. (irishtimes.com)
- whereSentence was handed down at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- whereShe was arrested outside a post office in Tralee. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe money was taken via supplementary welfare payments and then disability allowance between 28 February 2020 and 12 June 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe payments were collected between 28 February 2020 and 12 June 2024. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe money was taken between February 28, 2020 and June 12, 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- causeCookes falsely claimed she suffered from Huntington's Disease. (rte.ie)
- causeCookes pretended she had Huntington’s disease to obtain payments. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationShe has been in custody since her arrest on 13 July (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe deception unravelled after gardaí, alerted by social protection officers, investigated and obtained her medical records. (rte.ie)
- investigationCookes failed to attend scans and appointments ordered by her GP. (rte.ie)
- investigationCookes had not undertaken necessary genetic testing for her supposed condition. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe deception unravelled after gardaí, alerted by department officers, obtained her medical records. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCookes pleaded guilty to 18 counts of deception and theft. (rte.ie)
- chargeCookes pleaded guilty to stealing over €60,000 from the Department of Social Protection. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeCookes pleaded guilty to two deception counts and 16 sample theft counts. (thejournal.ie)
- 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)
- courtCookes wanted to apologise to the department and the GP she deceived. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Ronan Munro adjourned sentencing to 5 March and remanded Cookes in continuing custody. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Ronan Munro adjourned finalisation of her sentencing to 5 March. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSamantha Cookes was sentenced to four years in prison with the final year suspended. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Ronan Munro said the case was a carefully orchestrated plan to take money from the State. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe sentence was handed down at Tralee Circuit Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Munro reduced the headline sentence to four years, suspending the final year for four years so Cookes can get treatment. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence is backdated to July 2024, when Cookes was arrested. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to July of last year. (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)
- otherA claim was granted and €17,747 was paid to Cookes up until October 2021. (rte.ie)
- otherCookes told the department she was too unwell to hold a pen. (rte.ie)
- otherCookes led a GP to fill out a form in 2020 saying she had already been diagnosed with the disease. (rte.ie)
- otherCookes also received €36,250 from the Arts Council. (rte.ie)
- 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)
- otherCookes had five previous convictions for similar type offences. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe guilty plea was counted as a mitigating factor. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge said the fraud would have been discovered quicker had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe wrote to the judge claiming to be a victim of psychosis. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 5 Mar2025Serial fraudster jailed for three years for ‘deliberate fraud’ over protracted period
Sentencing report: Judge Ronan Munro imposed a four-year sentence with the final year suspended, backdated to July 2024. Cookes has five previous convictions for similar offences including posing as a psychologist and taking money for a children's trip to Lapland.
convicted, Samantha Cookes, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Samantha Cookes - 5 Mar2025Samantha Cookes jailed for three years for 'carefully orchestrated' social welfare fraud
Reports the sentencing on 5 March 2025 of Samantha Cookes after her guilty plea: four years with the final year suspended, backdated to July 2024, and a guilty plea to two deception counts and 16 theft counts.
convicted, Samantha Cookes, 36, female, namedSamantha Cookes - 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 - 19 Feb2025Woman in fraud case falsely claimed she had rare disease
Reports the sentencing hearing at Tralee Circuit Court, where sentencing was adjourned to 5 March 2025 and the accused was remanded in continuing custody. Adds details of the false claims, the medical evidence that unravelled them, and the Arts Council payments.
convicted, Samantha Jade Cookes, 36, female, namedSamantha Jade 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