Man arrested in Cavan falsely claimed €250,000 in welfare

A district court judge refused bail at Mullingar District Court for a 63-year-old man after gardaí told him he had used nine different identities, “eight of which were not his own” to make fraudulent social welfare claims. Garda Peter Kelly explained in evidence at Mullingar District Court that Paul Murray, of no fixed abode, but who has been living in Thailand, was being investigated for making fraudulent welfare claims in this country, totalling €250,000. The charges before Judge Aeneas McCarthy, were only sample charges, explained Garda Kelly, who stated that a file was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Dating back to 2006, the sample charges before the court included charges of theft from the Department of Social Protection in Blackhall Place, Mullingar; Dublin Road, Cavan and Trim. Mr. Murray was arrested on October 19 in Cavan after signing on as Thomas Murray there, Garda Kelly said. When asked to outline reasons to the court why Mr. Murray should not be released on bail, Garda Kelly said that following his arrest a search of Mr. Murray’s car uncovered three passports, including an Irish one in the name Paul Murray, and a British Passport, ten Irish birth certificates and nine false UK driving licences. Garda Kelly also told the court that he believed Mr. Murray to be residing in Thailand and that he was last permanently resident in Ireland in 1974. In further evidence to the court, Garda Kelly said the arrest was the result of a three-month investigation, which was ongoing with the possibility of further charges. Defending Mr. Murray, solicitor Redmond O’Regan told the court that his client was happy to surrender his passport and adhere to a signing on schedule. Garda Kelly told the court that he considered Mr Murray a flight risk: “Two passports obtained from the passport office with false documentation were used to claim welfare and to travel around the world. We are not satisfied that he does not have another passport.” Refusing bail, Judge McCarthy described the charges as serious and that he was taking into consideration that he had heard garda evidence of ”nine different identities, eight not his own, three passports and resident in Thailand returning home to collect social welfare using several identities”. Judge McCarthy directed Mr. Murray be returned to Mullingar District Court on November 4 for direction from the DPP.