Other News In Brief

Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A woman has been convicted for claiming £12,370 benefits she was not entitled to at Armagh Magistrates' Court.

Carmel Carroll claimed Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £12,370 while failing to declare employment. She was given a three month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities.

She is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department.

Voters Called To Return A Strong DUP Team To Westminster

South Antrim DUP Westminster Candidate Paul Girvan MLA has called on voters in the upcoming General Election to return a strong DUP team to Westminster.

Mr Girvan said that only the DUP have the strength to have influence and that smaller parties and abstentionist parties can't offer the representation that Northern Ireland requires.

He said: "The General Election on June 8th presents the people of Northern Ireland with the chance to once again send a strong Democratic Unionist team to Westminster to be their voice on the issues that matter most to them.

"Northern Ireland's interests are not best served by smaller parties with one or two MPs and they're not served at all by parties whose MPs don’t take their seats. The people of Northern Ireland need a strong team who will stand up and speak out for them in the House of Commons and exert the maximum influence on the new Government as they possibly can. During the last Parliament, the DUP team at Westminster were able to use their influence to benefit Northern Ireland and during the next parliamentary term we will avail of every opportunity to do the same.

"The DUP are the only party with the strength to stand up for Northern Ireland and get the best deal for our country. We are presenting to the electorate the strongest, most talented and most experienced team of candidates, many of whom are already tried and tested when it comes to speaking up for Northern Ireland."

Construction Work Complete On New Omagh Hospital

Construction work has been completed on the new Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex.

Contractors McLaughlin & Harvey officially handed over the keys of the new development to the Western Trust.

The new facilities include 40 single en-suite bedrooms for in-patients, including separate areas for rehabilitation and palliative care. The complex also provides a range of services such as a 24 place renal dialysis unit, a Health and Care Centre including modern GP practices and an Urgent Care and Treatment Centre. In addition, it also provides advanced diagnostic services including a CT scanner. There are also an endoscopy suite and 22 recovery beds.

Western Trust Director of Strategic Capital Development, Alan Moore said: "This is a major milestone for health care provision in the Western Trust and in particular for the Omagh community and I am proud to accept the keys to this state-of-the-art hospital and primary care complex. I would like to pay tribute to everyone who has been involved in the planning and construction of this magnificent hospital who have worked hard to ensure that it has been built to the highest standards."

(CD/MH)