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. 9210Fraud · Co. Offaly

Teacher given suspended sentence for maternity fraud at Tullamore court

Between November 2017 and February 2019, Eimear Carroll, a 43-year-old woman of Birr, Co Offaly, who worked at Derrylamogue National School in Rosenallis, Co Laois, claimed maternity-related payments for two pregnancies that never occurred, and wore a fake bump to school. The Department of Social Protection received information about her claims, and gardaí found no record of any children born to her. Carroll had been in custody since 1 February 2026 and pleaded guilty at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court to fraud and creating false documents. On 5 June 2026, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced her to five years in prison, suspended, with 12 months of Probation Service supervision.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced5 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Carroll wore a fake bump to school and claimed she was married and had given birth to two children.
  • Carroll claimed €12,425 in maternity benefit, while €46,939 was paid for maternity leave cover, a total of almost €60,000.
  • Carroll falsified documentation from three doctors to support her applications.
Where
Carroll worked at Derrylamogue National School in Rosenallis, Co Laois.
When
The offences occurred between November 2017 and February 2019.
Investigation
  • The Department of Social Protection received information that Carroll was suspected of claiming maternity benefit while off work.
  • Gardaí found no record of any children born to Carroll in the General Register Office.
Charges
Carroll pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming maternity-related payments for two pregnancies that never occurred and to creating false documents.
In court
The case was heard at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court, where the judge accepted that Carroll entered an early guilty plea and cooperated with gardaí.
Sentence
  • On 5 June 2026, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Carroll to five years in prison and suspended the term, backdated to 1 February 2026, with the remainder suspended for seven years.
  • Carroll must place herself under Probation Service supervision for the next 12 months.
Other details
  • Carroll lost her teaching job and had been in custody for the last four months.
  • All the money has been repaid to the State.
  • Carroll had mental health issues, including depression and suicidal ideation.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCarroll wore a fake bump to school. (rte.ie)
  • whatCarroll claimed she was married and had given birth to two children. (rte.ie)
  • whatCarroll claimed €12,425 in maternity benefit, while €46,939 was paid for maternity leave cover. (rte.ie)
  • whatCarroll falsified documentation from three doctors to support her applications. (rte.ie)
  • whereCarroll worked at Derrylamogue National School in Rosenallis, Co Laois. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe offences occurred between November 2017 and February 2019. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe Department of Social Protection received information that Carroll was suspected of claiming maternity benefit while off work. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found no record of any children born to the accused in the General Register Office. (rte.ie)
  • chargeCarroll pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming maternity-related payments for two pregnancies that never occurred, and to creating false documents. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe judge accepted Carroll entered an early guilty plea and cooperated with gardaí. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Keenan Johnson sentenced Carroll to five years in prison and suspended the term. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 1 February 2026. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe remainder of the sentence was to be suspended for seven years. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceCarroll must place herself under Probation Service supervision for the next 12 months. (rte.ie)
  • otherCarroll lost her teaching job. (rte.ie)
  • otherCarroll had been in custody for the last four months. (rte.ie)
  • otherAll the money has been repaid to the State. (rte.ie)
  • otherCarroll had mental health issues including depression and suicidal ideation. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Jun2026
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Teacher who wore fake bump in maternity fraud avoids jail

    Court report of the sentencing at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court on 5 June 2026. It adds the sentence, the guilty plea, the repayment of the money, the probation conditions and the offence dates.

    convicted, Eimear Carroll, 43, female, named, irish (judged from name)Eimear Carroll