Three convicted of benefit fraud at Dungannon court

Three men were convicted at Dungannon Magistrates' Court yesterday for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.

One man was given two months imprisonment suspended for twelve months and ordered to pay court costs of £43 for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £6,460.

Another man was given six months imprisonment suspended for three years and ordered to pay court costs of £34 for failure to declare capital while claiming Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £16,522.

The third man was given five months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to pay court costs of £31 for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £7,367.

Both are also required to repay the money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

This brings to 270 the total number of successful prosecutions this year.