LAST FRIDAY, Limerick District Court heard 640 cases relating to parking fines, social welfare fraud and unpaid TV licences. Judge Eugene O’Kelly heard the cases relating to unpaid parking tickets as issued by An Garda Siochana dating back to the start of this year through to May. Many were for illegal parking or out of date display documents. Cases of social welfare fraud where persons claimed benefits that they were not entitled to or attempted to continually claim benefits while in prison were also heard. One man in his 40s was jailed for six months after claiming welfare benefits in excess of €8,000 that he was not entitled to.
The court heard that the man was paying back €5 per week and Judge Eugene O’Kelly said that at that rate, he would be paying it back forever. Penalty, the judge added, would have to be met in some other manner and the accused man from Limerick City was jailed for six months.
