Sunday 1 November 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. 22464Making false statements (for the purpose of obtaining direct provision payments) · Co. Dublin · 3 Aug 2017

Two sisters given suspended sentences for false statements to obtain direct provision payments

Hala Salman Alaabsali (39) and Raghad Salaman Alaabsali (29), both with Spanish and Iraqi citizenship, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making false statements to obtain direct provision payments totalling over €10,000 and were each given suspended sentences of 16 months.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced8 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe sisters pleaded guilty to making false statements for the purpose of obtaining direct provision payments worth a total of just over €10,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThey used valid Iraqi documents to claim asylum seeker payments of some €38 weekly, along with accommodation and meals, to which they were not entitled as EU citizens. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereBoth sisters have an address at Drumcondra Road Upper, Dublin 9. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHala Salman Alaabsali pleaded guilty to three counts of making false statements for the purpose of obtaining direct provision payments totalling €6,832 between August 2017 and November 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeRaghad Salaman Alaabsali pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements for the purpose of obtaining direct provision payments totalling €4,187 between August 2017 and August 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan passed sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGarda Eimhear Keeshan told John Berry BL, prosecuting, about the sisters' background. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceEach sister was given a suspended sentence of 16 months and ordered to be of good behaviour for that period. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe sisters have both Spanish and Iraqi citizenship. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBoth women are working and have repaid the monies to the State. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe sisters were originally Iraqi nationals who moved to Spain with their parents in the year 2000. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThey were granted Spanish nationality in 2012 and 20145 and moved to Ireland in 2017. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe sisters had volunteered with Vincent de Paul, Inner City Helping Homeless and the Free Legal Advice Centre. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Feb2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Sisters guilty of making false statements to obtain direct provision payments worth over €10,000

    Reports the sentencing of two sisters who pleaded guilty to making false statements to obtain direct provision payments; both received 16-month suspended sentences.

    convicted, Hala Salman Alaabsali, 39, female, Iraqi, named, non-irishHala Salman Alaabsaliconvicted, Raghad Salaman Alaabsali, 29, female, Iraqi, named, non-irishRaghad Salaman Alaabsali