Waterford pastor who illegally collected over €50,000 in disability allowances will be 108 when sum is repaid
Waterford Courthouse. Photo: Joe Evans
A Lemybrien man who claims to be a pastor, appeared in Waterford Circuit Court recently for collecting over €50,000 in disability allowance payments whilst living outside the country.
Desmond Breen (58), of Forest Lodge, Lemybrien, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and two counts of making misleading or false statements.
Whilst he was living in South Africa, Breen continued receiving disability which came to a total value of €54,308.50.
In February 2020, Gardaí called to the man’s Lemybrien address. Upon arrival, they found a female living there, concluding that Breen had been renting the property to her.
An investigation took place, in which financial information showed both rent and disability allowance payments were going into Breen’s account. His account also showed South African rand transactions.
Breen’s defense counsel, Mr. Gareth Hayden BL, said that while in South Africa, Breen was made pastor of a Christian church, was working with a charity and would give food to the poor.
Gardaí said they were unable to confirm whether the man was actually a pastor.
During his interview with Gardaí, Breen was asked if he was aware that he had no entitlements to be receiving a disability allowance while living outside of the country, to which he responded “I am fully aware of it now”.
He was also asked about not informing the Department of Social Protection that he had left Ireland. He responded “I never considered it to be a problem”.
He further said in the interview: “It wasn’t malicious. I didn’t set out to do it”.
At the time of the court hearing on April 9, Breen still owed approximately €51,962 in outstanding repayments, which he is repaying at a rate of €20 per week.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly outlined that Breen would be 108 years old by the time the fees are fully paid off, describing the rate as “not realistic.”
“This is theft and you can’t argue about that,” Judge O’Kelly said.
The matter was adjourned until a “realistic plan” could be conjured for repayment.
