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24/07/2013
Other News In Brief
Four Convicted Of Benefit Fraud
Four people were convicted at Belfast Magistrates' Court yesterday for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.
David Chambers (27) of Oakwood Road, Carrickfergus claimed Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £2,646 while failing to declare employment. He was fined £450 and ordered to pay court costs of £34.
Michael Short (54) of Ladybrook Crescent, Belfast claimed Jobseekers Allowance totalling £3,718 while failing to declare employment. He was fined £500.
Agnes Girvan (33) of Palmerston Road, Belfast claimed Income Support, Carers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £4,476 while failing to declare employment. She was given 80 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £46.
Barry Downey (27) of Queens Parade, Belfast was given a six month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to repay court costs of £79 for wrongful encashment of Jobseekers Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance totalling £309.
All are also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.
Rogers Speaks Out In Support Of Oyster Farmers
South Down SDLP MLA Seán Rogers has spoken out in support of the horrendous circumstances that some local Oyster Farmers find themselves in.
Mr Rogers said: "I was shocked to hear and see first-hand the devastation to Oyster Farming on the Northern side of Carlingford Lough.
"One farmer has lost 80% of his stock in just 2 days, which is essentially 3 years of hard work in often very difficult conditions, gone. It is assumed that these losses are linked to the unusually high water temperatures of late in Carlingford Lough. Last night's average was 19 degrees. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the OsHV Virus is present in Carlingford Lough but it appears to flourish in warmer water. Tests into the losses are ongoing at present."
Call For Transparency Regarding Donations To Political Parties
Sinn Féin MLA Caitríona Ruane has reiterated the party's call for transparency regarding donations to political parties.
The South Down MLA said: "In the Sinn Féin submission to the review into legislation governing donations, we called for an end to the practise of keeping the identity of donors secret and that the threshold for reporting donations be lowered to £750.
"These were rejected by the British Secretary of State after lobbying from other political parties. Sinn Féin is the only party that publish our annual accounts on the party website.
"Justifiable public cynicism is generated when it is perceived that political parties are not being open and transparent about their financial affairs.
"Vested interests being allowed to secretly contribute to political parties does a disservice to politics in general. It is a practice which needs to be brought to an end."
(CD/JP)
Four people were convicted at Belfast Magistrates' Court yesterday for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.
David Chambers (27) of Oakwood Road, Carrickfergus claimed Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £2,646 while failing to declare employment. He was fined £450 and ordered to pay court costs of £34.
Michael Short (54) of Ladybrook Crescent, Belfast claimed Jobseekers Allowance totalling £3,718 while failing to declare employment. He was fined £500.
Agnes Girvan (33) of Palmerston Road, Belfast claimed Income Support, Carers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £4,476 while failing to declare employment. She was given 80 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £46.
Barry Downey (27) of Queens Parade, Belfast was given a six month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to repay court costs of £79 for wrongful encashment of Jobseekers Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance totalling £309.
All are also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.
Rogers Speaks Out In Support Of Oyster Farmers
South Down SDLP MLA Seán Rogers has spoken out in support of the horrendous circumstances that some local Oyster Farmers find themselves in.
Mr Rogers said: "I was shocked to hear and see first-hand the devastation to Oyster Farming on the Northern side of Carlingford Lough.
"One farmer has lost 80% of his stock in just 2 days, which is essentially 3 years of hard work in often very difficult conditions, gone. It is assumed that these losses are linked to the unusually high water temperatures of late in Carlingford Lough. Last night's average was 19 degrees. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the OsHV Virus is present in Carlingford Lough but it appears to flourish in warmer water. Tests into the losses are ongoing at present."
Call For Transparency Regarding Donations To Political Parties
Sinn Féin MLA Caitríona Ruane has reiterated the party's call for transparency regarding donations to political parties.
The South Down MLA said: "In the Sinn Féin submission to the review into legislation governing donations, we called for an end to the practise of keeping the identity of donors secret and that the threshold for reporting donations be lowered to £750.
"These were rejected by the British Secretary of State after lobbying from other political parties. Sinn Féin is the only party that publish our annual accounts on the party website.
"Justifiable public cynicism is generated when it is perceived that political parties are not being open and transparent about their financial affairs.
"Vested interests being allowed to secretly contribute to political parties does a disservice to politics in general. It is a practice which needs to be brought to an end."
(CD/JP)
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Benefit Fraudsters Pay The Penalty
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Both a jail sentence and fines have been handed down to benefit fraudsters across NI. Two people were convicted at Newry Magistrates Court (pictured) on Monday for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.
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A woman has been convicted at Newtownards Magistrates' Court for claiming almost £30,000 in benefits she was not entitled to. 55-year-old Mary McCluskey of Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, County Down, claimed Housing Benefit, Income Support and Carers Allowance totalling £28,360 while failing to declare she was living abroad.
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Brokenshire: NI Could Face Second Assembly Election
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A cloudy day with a little light rain or drizzle at times, but some spells of drier weather too. The north coast may become somewhat brighter later this afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:Cloudy and patchy light rain will slowly clear away this evening. Then the rest of the night will be dry with broken cloud. Westerly winds freshening in the early hours. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
