Samantha Jade Cookes, 36, pleaded guilty to 18 charges of fraud at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court, admitting to stealing a total of €60,334 from the State over a four-year period. She deceived the Department of Social Protection by falsely claiming a medical diagnosis of Huntington's disease, resulting in substantial supplementary welfare payments. The court outlined her various thefts from 2020 to 2024 involving multiple forms of welfare allowances, and Ms Cookes has been in custody since July awaiting sentencing, which has been scheduled for February 19.
Ms Cookes has admitted to stealing a total of €60,334 from the State over four years through welfare fraud, misleading authorities about her medical condition.
The prosecution alleged that Ms Cookes dishonestly induced the Department of Social Protection by falsely claiming she had Huntington's disease for financial benefit.
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