17 February 2005
NEWTOWNARDS BENEFIT FRAUD CONVICTIONS
Newtownards woman, Margaret Donkin, was recently convicted at Newtownards Courthouse for wrongly claiming benefits from the Social Security Agency.
Ms Donkin (57) of Main Street, Greyabbey, failed to declare savings whilst claiming benefit over a period of four years. She had dishonestly received nearly £12,000.
At the same court hearing, James Keenan (42) of Hillside, Portavogie, was sentenced for working whilst claiming Incapacity Benefit. He had defrauded the Agency of more than £2,600.
In addition to repaying the money they had falsely obtained, Magistrate Fyffe sentenced both defendants to a fine of £450 each. Ms Donkin was also ordered to pay £50 costs and Mr Keenan was ordered to pay £28 costs.
These are the latest of a series of prosecutions brought by the Agency in its drive to clamp down on benefit fraud.
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