Ireland Named in reporting
Margaret Bergin
Born 1951, from the ages reported. 12 reports across 1 case, 6 Jul 2023 to 17 Jan 2025
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Convicted, accused
- Born
- 1951, from the ages reported
- Offences
- Social welfare fraud (theft and larceny)
- Where
- Co. Laois
- Reporting
- 12 reports, 6 Jul 2023 to 17 Jan 2025
- Outlets
- leinsterexpress.ie, dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com, offalyexpress.ie, rte.ie
Photographs
as published, with the outlet's credit
Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.
Cases
latest first- Laois woman sentenced for 28-year pension fraud at Portlaoise Social welfare fraud (theft and larceny) · Co. Laois
Margaret Bergin, 73, a woman from Mountrath, Co Laois, was sentenced on 1 November 2024 at Portlaoise Circuit Court to five years and six months' imprisonment, with the final three years and six months suspended, after pleading guilty to 15 sample charges of theft and larceny. She had claimed the State pension of her father-in-law John Jack Bergin, who died in November 1993 aged 82, for over 28 years, totalling €271,046.28, by forging his signature on annual declarations. The fraud was uncovered in 2022 when an amateur gerontologist researched a supposed 110-year-old man in Laois, and welfare officers found her husband Seamus Bergin posing as the deceased during a home visit. Bergin was arrested in September 2022 and had repaid €75,000 before sentencing.
Sentenced, 1 Nov 2024Convicted, accused · 12 reports
Timeline
every report naming Margaret Bergin, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 17 Jan2025Laois Gardaí to return silver coins issued on behalf of President Michael D Higginsconvicted, Margaret Bergin, 73, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Bergin
- 8 Nov2024Inspector visits to homes of people over 100, Department confirms after 'extraordinary' Laois pension fraud caseconvicted, Maragaret Bergin, 73, female, named, irish (judged from name)Maragaret Bergin
- 2 Nov2024Judge Keenan Johnson's sentencing judgement in major Laois social welfare fraud caseconvicted, Margaret Bergin, over 73, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Bergin
- 2 Nov2024Elderly Laois woman jailed for €270 k defraud of dead relative's pensionconvicted, Margaret Bergin, 73, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Bergin
- 2 Nov2024Gran jailed for pension scam locked up with Ireland's most dangerous prisonersconvicted, Margaret Bergin, 73, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Bergin
- 1 Nov2024Co Laois grandmother who drew down €270,000 of father-in-law’s pension for more than 28 years after his death jailedconvicted, Margaret Bergin, 73, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Bergin
- 1 Nov2024Breaking: Laois woman arrives for sentencing over €270k pension fraudconvicted, Margaret Bergin, 73, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Bergin
- 30 Oct2024Woman in court in the Midlands for drawing down pension of man who would have been 110 years oldaccused, Margaret Bergin, 73, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Bergin
- 29 Oct2024Woman in court in Laois for drawing down pension of man who would have been 110 years oldaccused, Margaret Bergin, 73, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Bergin
- 14 Jun2024Woman, 73, to be sentenced in October over pension fraudconvicted, Margaret Bergin, 73, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Bergin
- 10 Jul2023Woman appears in court in the Midlands following search for Ireland's oldest manaccused, Margaret Bergin, 72, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Bergin
- 6 Jul2023Woman in court following search for Ireland's oldest man in Laoisaccused, Margaret Bergin, 72, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Bergin
Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.