Samantha Jade Cookes, 36, pleaded guilty to 18 charges at the Tralee Circuit Criminal Court, admitting to stealing a total of €60,334 in welfare payments over four years. Her fraudulent activities included claiming to have Huntington's disease to falsely obtain more than €40,000 in supplementary social welfare payments and nearly €18,000 in other allowances. Initially facing 55 charges, she agreed to plead guilty to a reduced number, acknowledging her culpability in these significant thefts from the State. Sentencing has been scheduled for February 19, following her custody since July.
Samantha Jade Cookes, aged 36, pleaded guilty to 18 charges of theft, admitting to stealing over €60,000 in welfare payments from the State.
Cookes induced the Department of Social Protection to make fraudulent welfare payments totaling €40,000 by falsely claiming to have Huntington's disease over four years.
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