Letterkenny woman pleads guilty to a litany of fraud charges

A Letterkenny woman has pleaded guilty to several charges of fraud at the Department of Social Protection.

Ann Marie Doherty appeared at Letterkenny District Court where she pleaded guilty to a total of six charges of fraud. The court was told that a total of €8,021.67 had been defrauded by Ms Doherty with an address at Leitir Beag, Letterkenny.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham said she would accept jurisdiction in the case but did stress that it was "on the cusp." She put all the charges to the accused woman separately and she pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Ms Doherty was charged that on July 27, 2022 at the Department of Social Protection Building at Oliver Plunkett Road in Letterkenny, did use an instrument to wit, a falsified AIB bank statement dated between April 24, 2022 and July 25, 2022, in the name of Hugh Daniel Sweeney which was, and which she knew or believed to be, a false instrument with the intention of inducing another person to accept it as genuine and by reason of so accepting the said instrument to do some act or to make some omission, or to provide some service, to the prejudice of that person or another person. to provide some service.

She was also charged that on July 27, 2022 at the Department of Social Protection Building at Oliver Plunkett Road in Letterkenny, did use an instrument to wit, a falsified Watson Hire payslip dated July 7, 2022, in the name of Hugh Daniel Sweeney which was, and which she knew or believed to be, a false instrument with the intention of inducing another person to accept it as genuine and by reason of so accepting the said instrument to do some act or to make some omission, or to provide some service, to the prejudice of that person or another person to provide some service.

Ms Doherty was also charged that on July 27, 2022 at the Department of Social Protection Building at Oliver Plunkett Road in Letterkenny, did use an instrument to wit, a falsified Watson Hire payslip dated July 14th, 2022, in the name of Hugh Daniel Sweeney which was, and which she knew or believed to be, a false instrument with the intention of inducing another person to accept it as genuine and by reason of so accepting the said instrument to do some act or to make some omission, or to provide some service, to the prejudice of that person or another person to provide some service.

The accused was further charged that that on July 27, 2022 at the Department of Social Protection Building at Oliver Plunkett Road in Letterkenny, did use an instrument to wit, a falsified Watson Hire payslip dated July 22, 2022, in the name of Hugh Daniel Sweeney which was, and which she knew or believed to be, a false instrument with the intention of inducing another person to accept it as genuine and by reason of so accepting the said instrument to do some act or to make some omission, or to provide some service, to the prejudice of that person or another person to provide some service.

She was also charged that on March 1, 2023, at the Department of Social Protection Building at Oliver Plunkett Road in Letterkenny, did use an instrument to wit, a falsified Watson Hire payslip dated February 16, 2023, in the name of Hugh Daniel Sweeney which was, and which she knew or believed to be, a false instrument with the intention of inducing another person to accept it as genuine and by reason of so accepting the said instrument to do some act or to make some omission, or to provide some service, to the prejudice of that person or another person to provide some service.

The final charge was that on March 1, 2023, at the Department of Social Protection Building at Oliver Plunkett Road in Letterkenny, did use an instrument to wit, a falsified Watson Hire payslip dated February 23rd, 2023, in the name of Hugh Daniel Sweeney which was, and which she knew or believed to be, a false instrument with the intention of inducing another person to accept it as genuine and by reason of so accepting the said instrument to do some act or to make some omission, or to provide some service, to the prejudice of that person or another person to provide some service.

All charges are Contrary to Section 26 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001. The woman's solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, was granted legal aid in the case. Judge Cunningham adjourned the case until June 17 for the preparation of a Probation Report.