Seven people were convicted at Belfast Magistrates’ Court yesterday for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.
Andrew Lyttle (29) of Queens Parade, Belfast was given 150 hours community service for duplicate encashment of Income Support totalling £189.
Brian Lawlor (38) of Clonard Rise, Belfast was given a £500 fine and ordered to pay £22 court costs for duplicate encashment of Income Support totalling £449.
Andrew Strong (42) of Hilden Court, Lambeg was given 80 hours community service and ordered to pay £37 court costs for exaggerating his incapacity when claiming Disability Living Allowance totalling £3088.
Gerard Trainor (42) of Norfolk Road, Belfast was given 80 hours community service and ordered to pay £68 court costs for failing to declare employment while claiming Jobseekers Allowance totalling £1,083.
John Paul Maughan (26) of Ponsonby Avenue, Belfast was given a £200 fine and ordered to pay £31 court costs for failing to declare employment while claiming Jobseekers Allowance totalling £267.
Julie Lennox (33) of Walker Court, Belfast was given a four month custodial sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay £98 court costs for failing to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £6407.
Briege McAvoy (38) of Horn Drive, Belfast was given 75 hours community service and ordered to pay £28 court costs for failing to declare employment while claiming Income Support totalling £598.
All are also required to repay the money they wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.
This brings to 145 the total number of successful prosecutions this year.
