Other News In Brief

Man Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A man has been convicted for claiming benefits he was not entitled to at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court.

Mark McNelis claimed Income Support totalling £1,824 while failing to declare employment. He was given a three month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

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

NI's Construction Sector Lagging Behind Rest Of The UK

Northern Ireland's construction sector was lagging behind the rest of the UK, according to the latest RICS and Tughans Construction Market Survey.

NI saw an overall increase in activity in the first quarter of 2015 however there was a substantial fall in the amount of public sector work being done.

Northern Ireland was the only UK region where surveyors reported a decline in infrastructure workloads and blamed public spending cuts. Despite the slowdown, a net balance of surveyors are still reporting skills shortages across the sector.

RICS Northern Ireland Director, Ben Collins, said: "The latest RICS and Tughans Construction Market Survey points to a small uplift in overall construction workloads amongst Northern Ireland surveyors in the first quarter of this year, driven by work in the private sector, including private house building and private commercial activity. When it comes to public sector work, though, surveyors are reporting a worrying decline.

"We understand that public money is finite and becoming more scarce. But we would encourage the politicians to recognise the paramount importance of investing in infrastructure and to prioritise funding capital expenditure where possible. As we have said before, there are alternative methods of finance that should be considered."

Confiscation Order For L'Derry Man

The Social Security Agency Financial Investigation Unit obtained a Confiscation Order to the value of £6,163 against Richard Caldwell (46) of Bovevagh Road, Dungiven at Londonderry Crown Court today, 20 April.

Richard Caldwell claimed Incapacity Benefit and Income Support on the basis of being unfit for work and having no savings or other source of income at Londonderry Magistrates Court.

During his claims to benefit the defendant failed to declare that he had been working. Due to his failure to report his true circumstances, he received £8,426 in benefits he was not entitled to over a 12 month period.

On 17 June 2015, the defendant pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to declare his true circumstances.

At the confiscation hearing the Court granted a Confiscation Order in the amount of £6,163 with a six month prison sentence in default of non-payment. He has until 19 July 2016 to satisfy the order.

(CD/LM)