A Laois woman who fraudulently claimed her deceased father-in-law’s pension for over 28 years has had her sentencing adjourned until October.
Margaret Bergin, 73, of Fairfield House, Mountrath, Co Laois, appeared at Portlaoise Circuit Court, where details of the long-running deception were revealed.
The court heard that Ms Bergin collected John Bergin’s pension, totalling €271,046.28, for 28-and-a-half years following his death.
Judge Keenan Johnson described the case as “most unusual,” noting it was uncovered in 2022 by an amateur gerontologist investigating a man in Mountrath who was supposedly 110 years old.
Suspicions of pension fraud arose when the researcher, puzzled by the lack of information on the centenarian, contacted Áras an Uachtaráin.
Garda Peter Crosby testified that Áras an Uachtaráin maintains a registry of centenarians and issues annual centenary coins, prompting an investigation by the Department of Social Protection.
Local welfare office enquiries found no death notice for John Bergin in November 1993. Margaret Bergin, authorized to withdraw his pension, allegedly tried to prevent welfare officers from conducting an inspection.
Prosecutor Will Fennelly recounted how officers, visiting Fairfield House in April 2022, were introduced to a man in bed who did not resemble John Bergin.
Further investigations led a welfare officer to discover John Bergin’s grave in a local cemetery. Garda Crosby confirmed that a crime scene photographer documented the grave, and an undertaker provided records of his death.
Searching Ms Bergin’s residence uncovered silver centenary coins, a presidential cheque for €2,540, and other pension-related documents.
Despite initial resistance, Ms Bergin cooperated during questioning and admitted to signing fraudulent pension documents.
The court was told that the fraudulent claims resulted in losses of €271,046.28 to the Department of Social Protection. Ms Bergin stated her husband was unaware of her actions and expressed remorse, saying she did not know how to stop the deception.
Judge Johnson emphasized the state’s significant financial loss and the deliberate nature of the fraud, describing the €35,000 restitution offer as insufficient.
He adjourned the case for a higher amount to be raised.
Commending the amateur gerontologist who uncovered the fraud, Judge Johnson adjourned the sentencing to 29 October and ordered Ms Bergin to pay €35,000 by 21 June.
He also considered the possibility of a custodial sentence, given the extent of the deception and the impact on the taxpayer.
