Irish Woman Samantha Cook Arrested for Alleged €60,000 Social Welfare Fraud in Kerry

An Irish woman accused of defrauding the Department of Social Protection out of nearly €60,000 has been remanded in custody after being arrested by gardaí outside Tralee post office.

Samantha Cookes, who is 36 and of no fixed address, was detained on Friday while attempting to collect a weekly disability allowance of €232.

Cookes appeared before Judge David Waters at Tralee District Court, where she was charged with two sample counts of fraud amounting to €464.

Further charges are expected as the investigation continues. According to gardaí, Cookes is suspected of collecting 238 payments over a four-year period.

The alleged fraud began in February 2020 when Cookes submitted a claim for Supplementary Welfare Allowance, claiming to have Huntington’s Disease. In September 2021, she submitted a disability allowance claim that was signed by a doctor.

Gardaí later discovered that Cookes had misled the doctor by stating she was adopted and could not prove her diagnosis, leading the doctor to sign the application in good faith.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Cookes had used multiple aliases to pose as a safety consultant, providing a company name similar to that of a legitimate business.

She issued invoices and received payments into her personal bank account. Garda Raphael Liston, who has been investigating Cookes since April 2024, provided evidence of her arrest, charge, and caution.

Garda Liston objected to Cookes’ bail application, citing her use of multiple aliases and variations of her own name and her mother’s name to conceal her identity.

He stated that Cookes had caused financial and emotional harm to members of the community and posed a flight risk as a UK citizen with no family ties in Ireland.

For the past 18 months, Cookes had been living in Tralee under the name Jade O’Sullivan. The court heard that she is no longer welcome at that address. Other aliases used by Cookes include Jane Harris, Samantha Jade Williams, Carrie Jade Williams, Lucy Fitzwilliams, Jade Harris, and Sadie Harris.

Garda Liston also noted that Cookes had not forfeited her passport, further supporting the claim that she posed a flight risk. He added that her motives for using multiple identities were unclear, as she did not always financially benefit from her actions.

During the hearing, Cookes, dressed in a pink hoodie and black skirt, maintained that she believed she had Huntington’s Disease and had been suffering from neurological symptoms since 2019. She added that her pre-existing mental health issues had made it difficult for her to engage with services.

Cookes’ lawyer, Pat Mann, argued that she was not in possession of a passport and had remained in Ireland despite knowing she was under investigation. Mann also suggested that Cookes would swear an undertaking to stay in the area until the case was resolved if granted bail.

Gardaí had attempted to arrange a meeting with Cookes for questioning before her arrest on Friday. However, after failing to receive a response, they were forced to lie in wait at Tralee post office, where she was apprehended while collecting her benefits.

Judge David Waters ultimately denied Cookes’ bail application, stating that he was not satisfied any conditions would prevent her from attempting to evade the court system. The judge cited her history of using multiple aliases and her lack of stable residence as factors in his decision.

Cookes was granted legal aid and is scheduled to appear before Tralee District Court again on Wednesday via video link. The investigation into her alleged fraudulent activities is ongoing, with additional charges expected to be processed in due course.

The case has raised concerns about the potential for abuse of social welfare systems and the need for stringent checks and balances. Authorities are continuing to scrutinize Cookes’ activities to uncover the full extent of the alleged fraud.

As the investigation proceeds, gardaí are also examining any potential links between Cookes and other fraudulent activities or individuals. The outcome of the case is likely to prompt a review of procedures within the Department of Social Protection.

The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activities or fraud attempts to authorities to prevent further incidents and protect community resources.

Sola Adeniji

News Reporter, Freelancer, and content creator

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