Five convicted of benefit fraud at Belfast court - 20 May 2008

Five people were convicted at Belfast Magistrates’ Court today for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.

James Conway (41) of Donegall Road, Belfast, was sentenced to one month in prison for wrongfully cashing Income Support cheques to the value of £428.00.

Robert Hill (50) of Ridgeway Park South, Portadown, was fined £250.00 for working full time while claiming Carer’s Allowance to the value of £2,670.

Peter Carleton (50) of Cluain Mor Drive, Belfast, claimed Jobseekers Allowance and Income Support to the value of £17,794 while failing to disclose that he had capital. He was given 150 hours community service and asked to pay court costs.

Carolyn McCone (23) of Ballyfore Road, Newtownabbey, was fined £200.00 for claiming Income Support of £5,955 while failing to disclose she was working.

Irene Hyman (46) of Syringa Street, Belfast, had claimed Income Support of £13,977 while working full time. She was put on probation for two weeks and ordered to pay court costs.

All five will have to repay the money they wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

This brings to 166 the number of successful prosecutions this year.