7 March 2006

BESSBROOK MAN CONVICTED OF BENEFIT FRAUD

A man was convicted at Newry Magistrate's Court yesterday for obtaining benefits to which he was not entitled.

Raymond Johnston (58), of Carrick Vista, Bessbrook, was fined £100 after being found guilty of claiming Income Support to the value of £4,332 while failing to declare that he was in receipt of an occupational pension. The offences occurred between November 1998 and April 2004.

He has to repay the money he received to the Social Security Agency.

This case is the latest success in the Social Security Agency's campaign against benefit fraud. There have been 42 successful convictions since the start of the year.

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