Dole-bludger granny Mary Irvine stole $110,000 from Centrelink, blew cash at Bunnings, Big W
A Traralgon granny who rorted Centrelink for $110,000 while working at a Latrobe Valley aged care facility has claimed the stolen dough was burned by her husband on alcohol but bank account statements told a different story.
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A dole-bludging granny rorted Centrelink for $110,000 then splurged the stolen cash at Bunnings, Big W, Target and Dan Murphy’s.
Mary Irvine, 56, was sentenced in the County Court on Tuesday to a two-year suspended jail term after pleading guilty to two charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
Irvine was a personal support worker at Yallambee Traralgon Village earning more than $1000 a fortnight when she rorted from Centrelink between 2014 and 2018.
Irvine also worked as a personal worker at another Gippsland company when she stole a smaller amount in 2012.
All up Irvine fleeced $108,729 between 2012 and 2018.
Irvine recieved the disability support pension because she had asthma but was required to report any income.
The court was told Irvine made 58 false reports during the “extended” offending period.
The greedy granny came unstuck in 2019 after she was interviewed by Centrelink officers following an investigation sparked by data-matching irregularities.
Irvine sensationally blamed her granddaughter for misreporting her income to Centrelink but evidence showed this to be an unlikely explanation.
Irvine also claimed her husband blew all the stolen dough on alcohol but the prosecution said this submission should be treated with “caution”.
However, Judge Carolene Gwynn could not accept this explanation.
“I reject that,” Judge Gwynn said.
“It’s just not believable."
The court heard bank account analysis revealed much of the cash was blown at Big W, Bunnings, Target and some at Dan Murphy’s.
The court was told Irvine had multiple opportunities to report her correct income but wasn’t made aware of the investigation until 2019.
Judge Gwynn said there was a place for “mercy” when sentencing due to Irvine’s health and personal circumstances.
Irvine – who appeared via videolink from the La Trobe Valley courthouse – was ordered to pay $3000 and be of good behaviour for three years.
She was also ordered to repay Centrelink the amount stolen.
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