Ireland Case No. 5472Social welfare fraud · Co. Kerry
Woman, 36, charged over €60,000 social welfare fraud in Kerry
Samantha Jade Cookes, a 36-year-old English woman also known as Carrie Jade Williams, was arrested outside the Edward Street post office in Tralee, Co Kerry, on Friday 12 July 2024 as part of an ongoing welfare fraud investigation. Gardaí allege she collected 238 payments totalling €59,094 over four years, beginning with a Supplementary Welfare Allowance claim in February 2020. She appeared at a special sitting of Tralee District Court on 13 July 2024 and was charged with defrauding the Department of Social Protection of almost €60,000. Judge David Waters refused bail, and she was remanded in custody with the case adjourned to Wednesday 17 July.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged13 Jul
- In court14 Jul
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Samantha Jade Cookes, a 36-year-old English woman, is charged over alleged social welfare fraud in Tralee, Co Kerry.
- Cookes is also known as Carrie Jade Williams, and the state says she has used the aliases Jade Williams, Jade O'Sullivan and Sadie Harris.
- Where
- She was arrested outside the Edward Street post office in Tralee, though one source describes the arrest as taking place in a post office in Tralee.
- When
- She was arrested on Friday 12 July 2024 and appeared before court on 13 July 2024.
- Cause
- Gardaí allege she made a Supplementary Welfare Allowance claim in February 2020 saying she had Huntington's Disease.
- Gardaí allege that in September 2021 she submitted a disability allowance claim signed by a doctor.
- Investigation
- The investigation began in April 2024 and is ongoing.
- She is suspected of collecting 238 payments totalling €59,094 over a four-year period, and was due to collect a €232 weekly disability allowance payment when arrested.
- Charges
- She was charged with defrauding the Department of Social Protection of almost €60,000, including charges of stealing €232 disability allowance payments on 12 June 2024 and 12 July 2024.
- The inspector said the charges before court were sample charges and further serious charges may follow.
- In court
- The state objected to bail on several counts, and Judge David Waters refused bail and granted free legal aid.
- The case was adjourned to Wednesday 17 July.
- Sentence
- She was remanded in custody, and no sentence has been reported.
- Other details
- Cookes was interviewed three times after her arrest and made admissions after caution, according to Gardaí.
- She has previously received suspended prison sentences for fraud, and Gardaí gave evidence that she has no ties to Ireland.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into alleged welfare fraud in Tralee (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- whatShe is suspected of collecting 238 payments totalling €59,094 over a four-year period. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe woman was arrested in a post office in Tralee. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereShe was arrested outside the Edward Street post office in Tralee. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe woman was arrested on Friday 12 July 2024 (garda.ie)
- whenThe arrest took place on 12 July 2024. (corkbeo.ie)
- causeGardaí allege she made a Supplementary Welfare Allowance claim in February 2020 saying she had Huntington’s Disease. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeIn September 2021 she allegedly submitted a disability allowance claim signed by a doctor. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie)
- investigationThe investigation began in April 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe woman has been charged (garda.ie)
- chargeShe was charged with defrauding the Department of Social Protection of almost €60,000. (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeCookes was charged with defrauding the Department of Social Protection of almost €60,000. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeShe is charged with stealing a €232 disability allowance payment on 12 July 2024 and on 12 June 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe inspector said the charges before the court were sample charges and there may be further serious charges. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtShe is due to appear before a special sitting of Tralee District Court on 13 July 2024 at 1pm (garda.ie)
- courtShe appeared before court on 13 July 2024. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtShe was due before a special sitting of Tralee District Court on 13 July 2024 at 1pm. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtThe state objected to bail on several counts. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge David Waters refused bail, granted free legal aid and adjourned the case to Wednesday 17 July. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceShe was remanded in custody. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherSamantha Cookes has previously received suspended prison sentences for fraud. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherCookes was interviewed three times after her arrest and made admissions after caution. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe state said she has used various aliases, including Carrie Jade Williams, Jade Williams, Jade O’Sullivan and Sadie Harris. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí gave evidence that she has no ties to Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Jul2024Woman, 36, charged over €60,000 social welfare fraud in Kerry
First report on this case. It covers the arrest, the charges, the alleged fraud over four years, and the bail refusal and adjournment.
accused, Samantha Jade Cookes, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Samantha Jade Cookes - 14 Jul2024'Fake Nanny Carrie Jade' charged in Kerry over alleged social welfare fraud
Reports the arrest in a Tralee post office on 12 July 2024, the charge of defrauding the Department of Social Protection of almost €60,000, and remand in custody.
accused, Samantha Cookes, 30s, female, English, named, non-irishSamantha Cookes - 13 Jul2024Court Appearance -Investigation into Alleged Welfare Fraud, Co. Kerry. 13th July, 2024.
Reports the charging of the woman and her upcoming court appearance at Tralee District Court.
suspect, 30s, female