Ukrainian woman jailed in Dublin over social welfare fraud scheme

A 51-year-old Ukrainian woman named Tetiana Stakhiv has been jailed after flying into Ireland every fortnight to collect social welfare payments despite never having lived in the country, the Irish Examiner and Gript reported. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the case on Thursday. [1][2]

According to Gript, Stakhiv flew back and forth from Poland to Dublin on Ryanair flights to collect Jobseeker Allowance payments. Garda Louise Keane told the court that the accused was living outside Ireland, as cited by the Irish Examiner. Gript reported that Stakhiv defrauded the Irish state of 9,103.10 euros. [1][2]

Gript reported that Stakhiv was sentenced to 10 months in prison. Both the Irish Examiner and Gript reported that the woman had been receiving treatment for a serious medical condition that became unavailable when war broke out in Ukraine. The Irish Examiner noted that she began buying her medication on the black market, while Gript reported her claims that she used the welfare money to buy cancer medicine. [1][2]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, the Irish government has previously focused on social welfare increases and bonuses, including confirming a social welfare Christmas bonus and tax adjustments in recent budget announcements. [6][7]