Other News In Brief

Four Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

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

Lindsay Baxter of Manor Street, Belfast, claimed Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseekers Allowance totalling £12,039 while failing to declare employment. She was given a three-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Jamie Lee Beggs of Bowness Street, Belfast, claimed Income Support totalling £10,681 while failing to declare employment. She was given a three-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Steven Mahon of Tullymore Walk, Belfast, claimed Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance totalling £4,179 while failing to declare employment. He was given a three-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Joseph Officer of Ardoyne Walk, Belfast, claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £12,525 while failing to declare employment. He was given a three-year prison sentence suspended for two years.

Completion Of Final Stage Of The Justice Bill Welcomed

The Alliance Party has welcomed the completion of the Final Stage of the Justice Bill, saying the legislation will make a number of positive reforms to make the justice system fit for the 21st Century.

Speaking in the Assembly, the party's Justice spokesperson, MLA Stewart Dickson, also added his praise to Justice Minister David Ford for his role in securing the passage of the Bill. Its reforms include a single court jurisdiction for county and magistrate courts; tightening up of Access NI checks and improved victim information sharing.

Mr Dickson said: "These are common-sense reforms, reducing costs, and streamlining our court system from the outset. An independent judiciary is a hugely central institution in any democracy. We now have a set of highly positive reforms for the justice system that will make it more responsive to the needs of citizens and vitally, to the victims of crime.

"I wholeheartedly commend the Justice Minister and his Department for their co-operation and communication during the passage of this Bill, which has allowed for the refinement of amendments and the welcome abandonment of others that would not have been appropriate."

Farmer Fined For Pollution Offence

An Armagh farmer has been fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

Paul Anderson pleaded guilty and was fined £500, as well as an offenders levy of £15 at Armagh Magistrates Court.

On 17 May 2014, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), inspected an unnamed tributary of Lowry's Lough and observed the waterway to be discoloured, containing heavy fungal growth and foam.

The discharge was traced to farm premises owned by Mr Paul Anderson. The length of waterway impacted by the discharge was in excess of 300 metres.

A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

(CD/JP)