Other News In Brief

Pair Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

Two people have been convicted at Londonderry Magistrates’ Court for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.

24-year-old Daniel McLaughlin of Broomy Lane, L'Derry claimed Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £2,691 while failing to declare employment.

He was fined £300 and ordered to pay courts costs of £40.

27-year-old Leighann Anderson of Linsfort Drive, L'Derry claimed Income Support totalling £3,730 while failing to declare employment. She was fined £200, ordered to pay an offenders levy of £15 and court costs of £34.

Small Business Saturday Campaign Launched

This year’s Small Business Saturday Campaign has been launched by First Minister Peter Robinson.

Small Business Saturday will take place on Saturday 6 December 2014 as an initiative to highlight small business success stories and encourage consumers to support small businesses in their communities.

Man Charged With Drugs offences

A 32-year-old man has been charged with drugs offences after being arrested in Manchester.

The move is part of a substantial police crackdown on Tuesday that saw nine people in Northern Ireland and England arrested.

Police were granted an additional 36 hours to question the man before charging him on Thursday evening.

He faces charges relating to 17 offences including the importation of Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to supply class B drugs.

He was due to appear before court in Derry on Friday morning.

Cloughfern Credit Union Re-Opens

Cloughfern Community Credit Union in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, has re-opened in newly-reburbished premises.

Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey officially opened the new premises yesterday.

"My officials have now reached broad agreement with the Irish League of Credit Unions and the Ulster Federation of Credit Unions on a small number of pilots with large and small credit unions so as to improve access to services for people living on low incomes, and to look at how credit unions can contribute to improving financial inclusion for such claimants," he said.

"Cloughfern Community Credit Union has played a key role in helping to develop a vibrant local community for almost 25 years and I have no doubt that it will continue to develop its services and seek new opportunities in these challenging times for the financial sector."

(IT/MH)