Two Grenfell Tower fraudsters, who scammed nearly £50,000 in financial assistance after lying they were housed by a victim of the fatal blaze, have been caged.
Both Carmel Daly, 50, and Robert Kenneally, 52, of Warwick Lane, West Kensington claimed they resided unofficially at Grenfell for six months before the fire.
They were convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of fraud by false representation.
Daly received four years and three months imprisonment and Kenneally four years and nine months.
The pair told the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and the Red Cross they had been sharing a flat with Dennis Murphy, who died in the fire.
As a result, Daly and Kenneally were provided with a room at a hotel, clothing and financial assistance.
They were later provided with a rent-free flat, with no requirement to pay council tax or other bills.
After an initial investigation by the RBKC fraud team, Daly and Kenneally were interviewed by police on April 5, 2018.
Detectives analysed CCTV footage from Grenfell Tower, five days before the fire, and neither Daly or Kenneally could be seen.
The jury also heard evidence from Mr. Murphy’s neighbour, who was sure he lived alone.
Mr. Murphy’s son, sister and mother also said they had never heard him talk about Daly and Kenneally living with him.
Analysis of Mr. Murphy’s telephone records revealed he had not had a single contact with any of the numbers attributed to Daly and Kenneally.
Detective Constable Ismail Mattar, of the Grenfell Tower investigation, said: “The aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire brought out the best in humanity, with members of the public and local services working round the clock to help survivors who had been left homeless.
“Unfortunately, a number of people like Daly and Kenneally cynically sought to abuse this kindness and personally profit from the tragedy, which killed seventy-two people.
“I am glad they have now been brought to justice. Fraud is not a victimless crime.
“The money obtained by Daly and Kenneally was council taxpayers’ money that was intended to be used to help support local residents.”
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