Other NI News In Brief

Belfast Murder Charge

A 51-year-old man is expected to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court today having been charged with the murder of an elderly woman in Belfast more than 20 years ago. He was arrested in Birmingham on Monday as part of a renewed investigation into the murder of Peggy Telford, 68, who was found strangled in her home at Twaddell Avenue in north Belfast on 4 February 1988.

Newry School Pitch 'Wins'

The NI Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced a funding boost of just over £258,000 for St Joseph's Boy's High School, Newry. The funding, which has been made available from DSD's Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund, will be used to refurbish the school's sports pitch providing a full sized facility. This will allow the school to enhance its physical education programme, enable it’s teams to play competitive matches at home for the first time and provide an additional local facility that can be accessed by the surrounding community.

Car Dealer Fined

A Coleraine car trader who misled a consumer into paying more than the advertised price for a motor vehicle was fined a total of £1,500 at Coleraine Magistrates' Court this week. In a case brought by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s Trading Standards Service (TSS), Roadside (Garages) Limited was found guilty of three charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The case arose following a complaint to Consumerline. A consumer viewed a vehicle at the premises of Roadside (Garages) Limited. The vehicle displayed a price indication of £8,995. The consumer decided to purchase the vehicle on finance but was not given any paperwork by the trader in relation to the sale. It was only when a copy of the credit agreement was sent from the finance company to the complainant that it was discovered that the price of the vehicle was in fact £9,895, £900 more than the price displayed on the car. Furthermore, the company was found guilty of misleading the consumer in relation to the duration of the credit agreement. After receiving the paperwork from the finance company, the consumer also discovered that the repayment period indicated on the credit agreement was five years and not four years as had been agreed with Roadside (Garages) Limited.

Frauds Found Out

The Social Security Agency Financial Investigation Unit has obtained a Confiscation Order to the value of £42,886 against James Whelan (66) of Rockville Street, Belfast at Belfast Crown Court. Whelan had claimed Income Support and Pension Credit on the grounds he was incapacitated from working and had no savings or other source of income. During his claim to benefit the defendant had failed to declare that he had held capital in excess of the allowed threshold. Due to his failure to report his true circumstances he received £40,335 in benefits he was not entitled to over a five year period. The defendant on 1 July 2011 pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to declare his true circumstances and received a one year prison sentence suspended for three years. At the confiscation hearing the Court granted an Order in amount of £42,866 with a sentence of 18 months in default of non-payment. Another man was convicted at Belfast Crown court yesterday for claiming benefits he was not entitled to. Richard Kane (54) of Templemore Street, Belfast claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £23,241 while failing to declare capital. He was given an 18 month custodial sentence suspended for three years. He will also have to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

(BMcC)