Other News In Brief

Three People Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A man and two women have been convicted for claiming benefits they were not entitled to at Newtownards Magistrates' Court.

Stephen McNeilly claimed Jobseeker's Allowance totalling £215 while failing to declare employment. He was given a £200 fine plus £15 offender's levy.

Kelly Hyland claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £5,336 while failing to declare employment. She was given a one month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Margaret Glenn claimed Housing Benefit totalling £6,288 while failing to declare that she was living together as husband and wife and that her partner was employed. She was given 120 hours community service.

They are also required to pay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

Resurfacing Work Announced In Cookstown

Resurfacing work is to start on the Moneymore Road in Cookstown.

Work on the £350,000 scheme will begin on 06 June and will take place on 1.9km of the northbound side of the A29 dual carriageway.

The work will be between Moneymore Road's junction with Muff Road to the Moneymore end of the dual carriageway.

The C565 Muff Road and the U2220 Dunnabraggy Road junctions will also be closed for the duration of the works.

Works are expected to be complete by the end of June.

Alliance Condemns Attacks On Ambulance Staff

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said it is past time for action to tackle those who attack ambulance staff.

The South Belfast MLA was speaking after it was revealed there have been 2,278 reported incidents of abuse on ambulance staff here since 2012/13, with 483 coming in the past year.

"No public servant should go to work fearing they may be subject to attack. It is unacceptable ambulance staff are operating in such appalling circumstances that almost two work days are lost for every day in the year," said Ms Bradshaw.

"Almost 900 cases of physical abuse in just six years is an almost unbelievable figure, and will cause widespread revulsion across the community. Added to the even greater number of cases of disruption, and we see a situation which plainly cannot be allowed to continue."

(CD)