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Man (50s) appears in Westmeath court charged with stealing over €17k in social welfare

Darius Musinskas outside Mullingar Courthouse.

Darius Musinskas leaving Mullingar District Court.

Darius Musinskas stands accused of stealing over €17,000 in social welfare.

Darius Musinskas will be served with a book of evidence in June.

thumbnail: Darius Musinskas outside Mullingar Courthouse.
thumbnail: Darius Musinskas leaving Mullingar District Court.
thumbnail: Darius Musinskas stands accused of stealing over €17,000 in social welfare.
thumbnail: Darius Musinskas will be served with a book of evidence in June.
Liam Cosgrove

A father of two has appeared in court charged with stealing over €17,000 in social welfare over a 12-month period.

Fifty-five-year-old Darius Musinskas, 25 Oliver Plunkett Park, Dundalk, Co Louth was charged before a sitting of Mullingar District Court today (Thursday) with 51 counts of theft and one count of using a false instrument.

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The charges, all of which relate to dates between April 2020 and April 2021, allegedly took place at Bank of Ireland, Pearse Street, Mullingar, Westmeath.

Darius Musinskas stands accused of stealing over €17,000 in social welfare.

The false instrument charge related to an alleged offence at the Department of Social Welfare, Blackhall Place, Mullingar, Westmeath on September 19, 2018 when Musinskas is accused of using a fraudulent Lithuanian identity card with a view to inducing another person.

The accused, who wore a dark jacket and trousers, stood beside a Lithuanian interpreter in the custody suite of the court as details of the charges were relayed before Judge Bernadette Owens.

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Garda James Donaldson gave evidence of having arrested the accused shortly after 9am at College Street in the midlands town before later charging him with the schedule of charges handed into the court.

Garda Donaldson said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed for the accused to be sent forward for trial on indictment.

Sgt Orla Keenan added the DPP had also consented for Musinskas to go forward on a signed plea “should that arise” in the future.

It was also revealed a book of evidence in the case would be ready in six weeks.

There was no objection to bail with Judge Owens being told conditions had been agreed prior to this morning’s court sitting.

Darius Musinskas will be served with a book of evidence in June.

They included orders for the accused to surrender his passport and undertake not to apply for a duplicate or any other travel documentation.

Musinskas was also directed to inform gardaí of any change of address, provide a mobile number to gardaí and remain contactable at all times.

Defence counsel Andrea Callan BL applied for legal aid on her client’s behalf, adding he was a father of two adult children.

She said Musinskas was in gainful employment, earning €500 a week, adding €350 of that sum went towards rent.

Legal aid was subsequently granted with Musinskas being remanded on bail until a sitting of Mullingar District Court on June 13.