Samantha Cookes outside Tralee District Court. Photo by Domnick Walsh.
The case of a 36-year-old woman charged in connection with the theft of €59,094 from the Department of Social Protection has been adjourned for a further two weeks until August 29. The case will be heard in a short hearing at Tralee District Court.
Samantha Cookes appeared in court this week via video link from Limerick Prison, where she is being held. Sgt Stephen O'Brien said the DPP guidelines were still not ready and the state was asking for a two-week adjournment.
Judge Marie Keane said she would grant an adjournment.
Ms Cookes, formerly of Connolly Park, Tralee, and now of no fixed abode, is charged with two counts of theft from the Department of Social Protection. She is accused of stealing property, namely €232 in disability benefit paid to Samantha Jade Cookes on 12 June, and stealing the same amount paid to the same name on 5 June, on the same date, at An Post, Edward Street.
Garda Inspector Eoin Donovan previously told the court that these were sample charges and that in total Ms Cookes is accused of defrauding the department of €59,094 in 238 separate payments over a four-year period. The State has indicated that further charges will be laid.
Ms Cookes has not applied for bail and remains in custody in Limerick. She will appear in court again via video link on August 29.