How can this be allowed to happen?

The disability allowance seems to be the golden ticket for many a scammer.

No pressure to get a job and no activation phone calls.

Just coin the money in and pop out as many little runts as possible.

The €228k was the proceeds of crime that he laundered. He didn’t receive that amount in disability allowance. There seems to be some confusion on this thread regarding that. I’m not sure why though as it’s clearly stated in the article.

The OP wants another rant against immigration: pure and simple.

Money laundering, nothing to do with the actual benefits he was getting, google what money laundering is.

...the root causes of long term unemployment are complex, pressure and 'activation' phone calls cant and wont solve these issues, the health system needs to be further integrated into the welfare system, in order to try resolve these problems, but the reality is, this may never happen, so round and round we go!

Access to large cash amounts and gold at his home in Romania ,

We need to start removing EU citizens like this lad:

Staying in another EU state for over 90 days

If you want to remain in an EU, EEA state or Switzerland for more than 90 days, you may be asked to show that you are:

• In employment
• Self-employed
• A full time student with health insurance and money to support yourself
• You have money to support yourself and health insurance (for you and your family) without state assistance

Qualifying family members of EU citizens, EEA nationals and Swiss citizens from these categories also have a right to live in another state for more than 90 days. See ‘Family members’ below for more information.

If you stay in another EU or EEA state or Switzerland for over 90 days and are not in any of the above categories, you could be given a Removal Order.

In Ireland, EU, EEA or Swiss citizens do not have to register their presence in the State with the authorities. This means that you will not have to show that you are in one of the above categories unless:

• Your spouse, partner or dependent family member is not from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and is applying for residence
• You apply for a social assistance payment and must satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition
• You apply for permanent residency for yourself, and/or your family (this is available after 5 years’ lawful residence)

You can read more about residence rights of EEA citizens.

EU citizens can and do engage in welfare tourism. Other issue is "Vasile had registered with the Revenue Commissioners in 2005 but was without any employment history in this country" - Romania joined EU in 2007, so how did he end up in Cork before then?

They would get money somehow like they currently do .