10/02/2015

Woman Convicted Over £28,000 Benefit Fraud

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.

She was given a one year conditional discharge and ordered to pay court costs of £33.

She is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

(IT/JP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

07 June 2012
£22,096 Benefit Fraudsters Convicted
Three benefit fraudsters have been convicted of claiming a total of £22,096 they were not entitled to. All three will have to repay the sums to the Social Security Agency. The biggest sum claimed was by a County Down man.
18 December 2012
Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud
A woman was convicted at Lisburn Magistrate’s Court yesterday for claiming benefits she was not entitled to. Clare Day, 34, of Killaney Avenue, Lisburn claimed Housing Benefit totalling £12,269 while failing to declare employment. She was given a two year unconditional discharge and ordered to pay court costs of £43.
08 September 2011
Named And Shamed: Frauds Pay Penalty
A dozen people have been caught fiddling the benefits' system in Northern Ireland. All have been identified on the Department of Social Development's (DSD) own website - a new development - and have had their details circulated to the local media in each of the areas concerned.
17 January 2014
Pair Convicted Of Benefit Fraud
Two people have been convicted at Londonderry Magistrates’ Court for claiming benefits they were not entitled to. 28-year-old Heather Wray of Tranarossan Avenue, L'Derry, claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £4,283 while failing to declare employment.
07 August 2013
Six Convicted Of Benefit Fraud
Six people have been convicted at Belfast Magistrates’ Court today for claiming benefits they were not entitled to. 30-year-old Isaiah Harbison of Hallidays Road, Belfast, claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £4,777 while still working. He has been sentenced to 100 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £34.