Cameroonian nurse denies all charges in €105k fraud trial

Lydie Kana, aged 39, of 16 Copperhill, Ballintemple, Cork, went on trial for alleged social welfare fraud at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

She is accused of knowingly making false declarations for the purpose of establishing entitlement to supplementary welfare allowances in the period December 11, 2006, to August 4, 2013, at Ballintemple Post Office.

She faces sample theft counts relating to the same period.

Charlie Quirke, of the Department of Social Protection, put the amount of welfare received at €105,000.

Pearse Sreenan, prosecuting, said: “She was completing forms saying her husband was not working when the department says they now know he was working.

“That is the false declaration element of the trial. The remaining counts — sample counts — cover many, many many years related to actual receipt of monies.

“Every single week, this lady would go down to Ballintemple Post Office and receive a payment.

“Over the period of some six years he was working full time in Blackrock Inn and his wife continued to go down to Ballintemple post office on the understanding that her husband was not working and not earning a living.”

Mr Sreenan said the accused told Det Garda Niall Hayes she knew her husband was working.

“Were you aware he was working at Blackrock Inn?” James O’Mahony, defending, asked. The defendant replied she did not know this.

She said she was refused payment in Ballintemple Post Office and she enquired at the main welfare office and she said they told her her husband was working.

She said gardaí came to her home and said her husband was working but she said that her understanding was that he was not working.

She said it was only then that she found out he was working under a false name and that he never paid her any money from this work.

Mr O’Mahony put a series of questions to the accused: “When you were signing social welfare forms did you know your husband was working in Blackrock Inn?”

She replied: “No sir.”

“Did you ever see a payslip from Blackrock Inn?”

She replied: “No sir.”

“Was there ever any extra money in the house?” She replied: “No sir.” “Did he ever give you money?”

She said: “No sir.”

The trial continues today.