Five men arrested in Tullamore over suspected welfare fraud

Five men, aged between 38 and 47, have been arrested in Tullamore as part of a Garda probe into suspected social welfare fraud.

The operation, which took place yesterday (Thursday) and was led by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), targeted business premises in the Tullamore area.

A statement from the Garda press office said the investigation had arisen from ongoing multi-agency cooperation which identified suspected abuses of the Department of Social Welfare, and social welfare fraud.

A total of 22 separate business premises were subject to unannounced inspections yesterday, after which five men were arrested.

The five arrests relate to offences contrary to Section 12 of the Immigration Act, 2004 and Section 2(1) of The Employment Permits Act 2003.

All five were charged with these offences and bailed to appear before Tullamore District Court on Wednesday next (October 13).

In addition to the GNIB, yesterday's operation involved officers from the Workplace Relations Commission and the Department of Social Protection.

The Garda investigation is ongoing.