Nigerian John Mattins Jailed in Ireland for Two-Job Benefits

[Jobbers]

An immigrant who claimed 19000 Euro on the dole while holding down two jobs was jailed yesterday.

Nigerian John Mattins, 29, of Castleview Walk, Swords, North Co Dublin, worked a full and part-time job in 2006 and 2007.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard he was eventually caught out working for security company Ashjen and at several hospitals with hygiene company Spring Grove.

Social Welfare Inspector  Anthony Farell told the court he first interviewed Mattins in October 2006.

But two year later Mr Farell spotted the father-of-three's name in employment records of Ashjen and Spring Grove. He quizzed Martins in January 2009 and the fraudster, who arrived as an asylum-seeker in 200, confessed he had been working while claiming the dole.

Defense lawyer Patrick Jackson said his client has since repaid 3400 Euro through weekly payments of 50 Euro.

Judge Martin Nolan said it was a "sheer accident" that Mattins was caught.

He asked: "Is there a reason for society's sake to impose a deterrent sentence?"

Before jailing him for one year, the judge agreed Mattins was a "good family man"

But he said he had no option "to deter others from adopting the course he did"

Source:
Two-Job Benefits Fraudster Jailed (Irish Daily Mirror) - 14 January 2012
By Sonya Maclean