A grandmother from Co Laois, Margaret Bergin, 73, was sentenced to five years and six months in prison after being found guilty of fraudulently collecting her deceased father-in-law’s pension for nearly three decades. Judge Keenan Johnson, however, suspended three years and six months of the sentence, meaning she will serve only two years. The total amount stolen from the state exceeded €270,000.
Despite the family benefiting from the ill-gotten funds, no steps were taken to repay the state by selling or mortgaging their property. Bergin pleaded guilty to theft and larceny charges related to the continuation of claiming John Bergin’s pension post his demise in 1993, using his home address at Fairfield House, Mountrath, Co Laois.
A partial repayment of €75,000 was made by the family, but a shortfall of €191,000 remains. Judge Johnson emphasised the importance of maintaining the integrity of the social welfare system and ironically noted that Bergin’s only income was the old age pension.
Bergin’s criminal activity was discovered in 2022 when a hobbyist gerontologist started researching an anomalously 110-year-old man reportedly living in Mountrath, Co Laois, prompting investigations. Evidence of premeditation was identified when it was revealed that no official record of Mr Bergin’s death had been lodged and Margaret Bergin had been regularly forging his signature to keep the pension payments rolling in.
A surprise visit from the Department of Social Welfare to Bergin’s residence resulted in discovering her spouse, Seamus, pretending to be his late father, complete with shoes on in bed and feigning deafness and confusion.
When An Garda Síochána officers subsequently inspected the residence, they discovered a €2,540 cheque dispatched by Áras an Uachtaráin in recognition of the late Mr Bergin’s 100th birthday, along with the annual medals sent thereafter.
Judge Johnson emphasised that our social welfare system relies on trust and is crucial for a civilised society. It was established to safeguard the society’s weakest members and maintaining its integrity is paramount.
In determining the fitting punishment, he considered that the length of the fraud, and the broader impact thefts from social welfare system have on society as a whole, were aggravating circumstances.
Late in the theft investigation, Bergin collaborated. However, this was in the face of “compelling evidence” against her.