Donegal judge hits out at ‘galling’ PUP fraud

A Donegal Judge has once again slammed people who illegally claimed pandemic unemployment payments (PUP) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham was speaking as several people came before Letterkenny District Court having claimed the Government payments while still working and getting paid.

A number of defendants appeared before the court who had illegally claimed a double payment for a several months, mounting to several thousand euro each.

One man had an over-payment of €6,900 which has now been fully repaid.

His solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said the man was being fully-taxed in his own job and that he did not ‘know where he was going’ by claiming the Covid payment also.

He added that the man was in the court's hands and that he had ‘made a mistake’.

However, Judge Cunningham quickly interjected and said this was not a mistake.

She said the Government had put the scheme in place to assist families during the pandemic and found it ‘galling’ that people were ‘out trying to take advantage’.

She fined the accused €500.

Another man who also appeared before the court, and who was representing himself, illegally claimed €6,892.

He has now made a repayment plan and is handing back €50 per week to the State.

When asked if he had anything to say to the court the man smirked.

Judge Cunningham said this was not a laughing matter and ordered the accused to come back to court on March 5, 2024 for a payment update.

Judge Cunningham told the man that he may wish to address the court at the next juncture.