Christian Bona (53) with an address at Rockfield Park, Stoney Lane, Ardee had pleaded guilty to 10 sample counts but was originally charged with 56 counts - all for theft of the job seekers allowance, apart from a back to school allowance claim.
The court had previously heard how an official in Ardee knew the person who attempted to sign-on as Christian Bona (Bone-a), was not the genuine claimant, and he was asked to return with identification and the defendant arrived with I.D. the next day and maintained he had been out of the country for a family emergency.
When interviewed he told officers his father in law had had a stroke and he had to go back to Romania.
The father of five, who is a naturalised Irish citizen, apologised saying "I didn't think it was a big problem".
The defendant took 30 flights within Europe between March 2015 and July 2016 and while at one point he had been eligible for the social welfare payments, he was ineligible for the period in question as he was absent from the State.
Although his sentencing had been adjourned to allow him to make a significant payment, the court heard that €19,893 remains outstanding.
The Defence barrister said his client had increased his monthly repayments to €450 in November and intends to continue doing so until the amount is repaid in full.
Judge Dara Hayes said as a pastor of a church in Drogheda, one might observe that this was particularly unchristian behaviour, and it was a fraud from the public purse.
However, he noted the defendant had no previous convictions.
The judge imposed a sentence of two years and three months, which he suspended for five years, on him entering a bond to be of good behaviour, so the monthly payments can continue.
Judge Hayes also warned that if one repayment is missed, he expects the case to be re-entered by the State.