Six convicted of benefit fraud at Newry Court

Six people were convicted at Newry Magistrates’ Court yesterday for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.

A Newry man (31) was fined £75 and ordered to pay court costs of £31 for failure to declare his partner’s employment while claiming Job Seekers Allowance totalling £2,678.

A second Newry man (26) was given an absolute discharge and ordered to pay court costs of £33 for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £5,723.

A woman (59) from Newry was given an absolute discharge for failure to declare capital while claiming Income Support totalling £5,191.

Another Newry man (22) was fined £75 and ordered to pay court costs of £37 for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £3,051.

A second Newry woman (23) was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay court costs of £40 for filure to declare employment Income Support totalling £4,895.

Another woman (33) from Newry was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay court costs of £75 for failure to declare she was living with a partner while claiming Housing Benefit totalling £7,153.

All are also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.