Woman left almost half a million in husband’s will claimed social welfare

June 6, 2017

A woman who was left almost half a million euro by her late husband continued to claim social welfare benefits.

Margaret Friel claimed the social welfare benefits while she worked part-time between periods in 2011 and 2016.

Garda Harvey Maughan of the Special Investigations Unit of the Department of Social Protection gave evidence to Letterkenny District Court.

He said a total of €16,812 had been overpaid to Ms Friel although the charges, brought by the Minister for Social Protection, referred to half of that or €8,072.

Garda Maughan said Ms Friel, 61, had been left a total of £394,597 (STG) by her late husband in his will.

Although she did not have a bank card relating to the account into which the money was lodged, she was the only named person on the account and she regularly made manual withdrawals.

When interviewed by Gardai, Ms Friel was very co-operative and said the cash was merely “resting in her account.”

Garda Maughan said “The money has now been given to the sons and maybe that was the intention of the deceased but she should have told us the money was in her account.”

Solicitor for Ms Friel, of 37 Windmill View, Letterkenny, Mr Frank Dorrian, said the money was always intended to be given to the two adult sons of the couple upon Mr Friel’s death.

He said the cash had since been divided amongst the couple’s two sons.

Mr Dorrian told the court that Mr and Mrs Friel had been separated for 32 years but that Ms Friel nursed her late husband before his death.

He said his client had no previous convictions whatsoever and that the ultimate destination of the money left in the will to Ms Friel was for the couple’s sons.

He added that it was unfortunate she did not seek advice on the situation but stressed that she did not profit “enormously” from it.

Judge Paul Kelly said that he would apply the Probation Act.

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