Lurgan woman convicted of benefit fraud

A woman was convicted at Belfast Crown Court on Monday for claiming benefits she was not entitled to.

The woman claimed Widowed Mother’s Allowance totalling £38,182 while failing to declare she was living with a partner. She was given a prison sentence of eighteen months, suspended for three years.

She will also have to repay the money she wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

This brings to 416 the total number of successful prosecutions this year.