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

George Brian Fleck (41) of Deerfin Road, Ballymena, had claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit to the value of £8,049 while failing to declare he had capital. He will have to pay a fine of £400 and court costs of £76.

Kenneth Gordon (57) of Skerry East Road, Ballymena, was fined £375 for claiming Income Support, Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit of £11,501 while working full-time. He will also have to pay court costs of £103.

Eileen Marie Murphy (57) of Waveney Road, Ballymena, claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit to the value of £5,472 while failing to declare she had capital. She was fined £300.00 and will have to pay court costs of £70.

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

There have been 128 successful benefit fraud convictions to date in 2008.