Cmr'ian avoids jail for claiming €37,000 in welfare fraud

A FORMER member of the Garda Reserve who fraudulently claimed almost €37,000 in welfare payments has avoided jail provided he repays the balance of money owed to the Department of Social Protection.

Charles Eyombo (40) of The Courtyard, Brú na Gruadán, Castletroy, Limerick, admitted making a false declaration on his jobseekers’ allowance and child benefit application over a four-year period, from August 2009.

Eyombo, from Cameroon, is a former member of the Garda Reserve, which he joined in 2009 and was based in Shannon in Co Clare. He resigned from his position in 2011 following a separate disciplinary inquiry.

The law graduate was working on a JobBridge programme at a medical firm in Ennis when he was arrested last year in connection with the fraudulent welfare payments.

At Limerick Circuit Court, Sergeant Vincent Brick said Mr Eyombo claimed €29,005.50 in Job Seekers Allowance and €7,950 in Child Benefit for a period when his wife and daughter had emigrated to America.