Offaly teacher who faked two births got €59,000 in benefits

A PRIMARY school teacher from Offaly faked two births in order to avail of maternity leave and maternity benefit, Tullamore Circuit Court has heard.

Eimear Carroll (43), Hillside, Seffin, Birr, received payments of about €59,000 as a result of deceiving the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Education in 2018 and 2019, Judge Keenan Johnson heard.

Garda James Martin, an investigator with the Department of Social Protection, said the total monies received by Ms Carroll comprised €12,425 on one occasion and €46,939 on another.

The court heard Ms Carroll, who was aged 35 when the offending began, had forged medical certificates and documentation from doctors at the National Maternity Hospital.

She claimed she had first given birth to a boy who was named Oran and then to a girl called Emily who she said was premature.

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She had also claimed she was married to a man named 'Peter Parsons' and supplied a PPS number for him but no person matching that name and number was found.

Garda Martin said an investigation began as a result of information received in November 2018 from a social welfare inspector in Tullamore, Eileen Connolly in relation to suspected fraud.

Garda Martin said he found it unusual that there had been no claim for child benefit and he found that no birth had been registered by Eimear Carroll.

A consultant obstetrician named in documents said they had not been prepared by him. Documents from doctors, including a doctor at Clonminch Medical Centre, were created by the accused for her applications.

When Ms Carroll wrote a letter to her school principal informing her that her second baby had been born, the principal replied: “Heartiest congratulations on your great news”.

Gardai searched the accused's residence in Birr on February 13, 2019 and found no evidence that children or a husband were resident there. There was only one furnished bedroom in the house.

When she was arrested and the allegations were put to her she denied any wrongdoing and told gardai there was “obviously some mix-up” and everything she had submitted was “above board”.

The woman also told gardai that she would not discuss “my babies” with them, said Garda Martin, nor would she comment on Mr Parsons.

She said she was entitled to her maternity benefit “the same as anybody else”.

Replying to Shane Geraghty, BL, prosecuting, Garda Martin said Ms Carroll had received a four-year sentence, with two of those years suspended, in July 2024 for harassment and stalking and is due for release at the end of this month, with remission.

Garda Martin added that the offences now before the court were facilitated by premeditation. She told work colleagues that she had married Peter Parsons and wore a bump to work.

She had previously pleaded guilty to the offences and sentencing was adjourned to this week for reports.

Suzanne Dooner, BL, defending, said a psychological report was before the court but Judge Johnson ordered the preparation of another one which would examine the background reason for the offending.

Ms Dooner said the gain for Ms Carroll was “limited” because she was off work.

It was accepted by Garda Martin that Ms Carroll was having difficulties with colleagues at work.

Ms Dooner said the woman had lost her job but had previously started making amends and paid back €10,500 by contributing €40 per week.

She intended to make further payments on release from prison and Ms Dooner said a probation report would assist the court in sentencing.

Judge Johnson said it was “an extraordinary case” and he would need a lot more information before he gave a sentence.

An offence of this nature would carry a custodial sentence, he said, stating that the integrity of the social protection system was built on the honest of applicants.

Sentencing was adjourned to June 3 next.