29 March 2006

MAN GETS COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR BENEFIT FRAUD

A man was convicted at Belfast Magistrates Court yesterday for obtaining benefits to which he was not entitled.

Gerard Oprey (54) of Leeson Street, Belfast was sentenced to 175 hours of community service for claiming Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance to the value of £3158 between April 2003 and March 2004. He was not entitled to receive these benefits as he had savings which he had not declared.

Mr Oprey 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 55 successful convictions since the start of the year.

---

Click here to print this press release.