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.

Brendan Laird claimed Disability Living Allowance totalling £4,010. He was given a five month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

Tyrone Construction Firm To Develop Almost 60 New Homes In Dungannon

A construction firm in Co Tyrone is to develop almost 60 new eco-friendly homes just outside Dungannon.

Western Homes will invest around £6 million on the new scheme at Derrywinnen Heights, off Bush Road.

The new timber framed homes will come in a variety of three and four bedroom semi-detached and four bedroom detached house types.

Shane Canavan of Western Building Systems said: "With prices starting at £135,000 these turn-key homes which are characterised by strong levels of thermal efficiency and acoustic performance are exceptionally good value for money. The specification created by our bespoke team of designers includes full internal and external turn-key finishes, triple glazed windows, composite external doors and solid fuel stoves.

"We know there is a strong demand for high quality, affordable housing in the Dungannon area. The location of these new homes makes them a sensible choice for those wishing to commute to local towns such as Cookstown or Dungannon or further afield to Belfast with their proximity to the M1."

Call For 'Rape Clause' To Be Overturned

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has attended a rally calling for the overturn of the so-called 'rape clause,' which effectively sees new claimants having to prove a child has been conceived via rape if they wish to claim tax credits for more than two children.

The South Belfast MLA joined the protest at the Department for Communities headquarters in Belfast. She said one of her first pieces of business after being elected as MLA was to contact the Department for Work and Pensions to seek the abolition of the clause, especially in Northern Ireland.

"The clause is appalling, asking women to make recollections which are damaging to their mental wellbeing in order to access benefits to which they should be entitled to in any case. It is exclusively women who are affected by this. For that reason, I am keen to meet MPs and others to try to get the clause stopped everywhere.

"In the extreme case the UK Government decides to continue with this dreadful policy, at the very least I have requested an incoming Executive be allowed to block the application of the clause here without being deemed to breach parity, given our specific circumstances around the unavailability of impartial advice to women in crisis pregnancies."

(CD)