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14 October 2008 - Four convicted of benefit fraud at Belfast court

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

Elaine Bittles (38) of Lady Street, Belfast was given a probation order for 12 months and ordered to pay £28 court costs for duplicate encashment of Income Support totalling £329.

Paul O’Reilly (49) of Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast was given 100 hours community service and ordered to pay £40 court costs for failure to declare he was employed while claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £7,574.

Mary Kirkpatrick (28) of Enfield Drive, Belfast was given a £250 fine and ordered to pay £28 court costs for failure to declare she was working full-time while claiming Income Support totalling £5,678.

Christopher Massie (26) of Ballyronan Park, Newtownabbey was given 12 months probation and ordered to pay £34 court costs for failure to declare he was working full-time while claiming Income Support totalling £4,062.

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

This brings to 391 the total number of successful prosecutions this year.


Department for Social Development News