Woman Defends Claiming Late Mother’s Pension for Three Years as ‘Keeping Her Alive’

Catherine Byrne, a 56-year-old from Bettystown, County Meath, faced legal consequences for continuing to claim her deceased mother’s pension for nearly three years, stating it was her way of keeping her mother ‘alive.’ After failing to register her mother’s death in 2019, Byrne received payments totaling nearly €15,000 until January 2022. While she insisted the funds were spent on flowers for her mother’s grave, it still constituted a serious offense.

Byrne was sentenced to two years suspended and ordered to repay €120 weekly to the Department of Social Welfare, alongside completing 240 hours of community service. Judge Dara Hayes noted the unusual decision not to register the death and emphasized the severity of defrauding public funds. He acknowledged Byrne’s grief but reminded her that many families manage to handle such formalities during their mourning.

Byrne’s actions, while driven by a misunderstood sentiment, highlight the complexities of emotional loss and the legal ramifications that arise from it. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to official processes, even in difficult times. The repayments are expected to take over a decade, illustrating the long-term consequences of financial misconduct, irrespective of the personal circumstances involved.