A father of four who used fake IDs to scam almost half a million euro in social welfare payments over 12 years has been sentenced to five years behind bars.
David Church of Parnell Street and formerly Monadreen, Thurles, Co Tipperary, faced 199 charges of unlawfully claiming Jobseekers' Allowance and Rent Allowance at various Dublin post offices between 2002 and 2013.
The 39 year old pleaded guilty to 13 sample counts at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
It emerged he stole an average of €40,000 a year over the 11 year period.
The court heard he drank or gambled a lot of the money.
