Frauds Pay Penalty

Three people were convicted at Belfast Magistrates' court this week for claiming benefits they were not entitled to. Florence Hoy (58) of Dean Park, Carrickfergus claimed Housing Benefit totalling £12,325 while failing to declare she owned property. She was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay court costs of £76. Mervyn Crawford (46) of College Square North, Belfast claimed Incapacity Benefit totalling £8,001 while failing to declare employment. He was given a probation order for 12 months to comply with alcohol and drug rehabilitation. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £40. Rosemary McLaughlin (22) of Ballyroney Hill, Newtownabbey claimed Income Support totalling £287 while failing to declare employment. She was given a conditional discharge for 12 months. Two people were also convicted at Craigavon Magistrates court. Brian White (36) of Kilwilkie Road, Lurgan was given 120 hours community service for wrongful encashment of Jobseekers Allowance totalling £408. Steven Robinson (25) of Rowan Park, Tullygally was given a three month prison sentence suspended for two years, fined £50 and ordered to pay court costs of £19 for wrongful encashment of Jobseekers Allowance totalling £273. All are also required to repay any money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

Information Breaks On Monster Wave

A record wave has been spotted off the coat of Ireland as an Atlantic storm continued its pass over the British Isles. The record 20.4 metre wave was recorded by a Met Eireann weather buoy at 2pm on Tuesday December 14 and was a maximum individual wave height. The Irish Sea buoy – known as the M4 - is from a new generation of weather buoys with the ability to measure maximum wave height. This new M4 has been on station since June 2011. Also, at 1pm on Tuesday, a "significant wave height" of 14.7m was recorded at the M4, which was another record wave height at that location. The highest Significant Wave Height previously recorded by the Irish weather buoy network was 17.2 metres by the M6 buoy on 9th December 2007.

'Water Board' Burglary Probed

Detectives in Newtownabbey are appealing for information after a report of burglary at residential premises at the Queen's Park, Carnmoney area on Monday. At around 1.15pm on the 12th December, it was reported that a male purporting to be from the Water Board entered a house in the area. It is believed that a handbag was taken during the incident. Anyone who has any information or who saw anything suspicious in the area is asked to contact Detectives at Newtownabbey on 0845 600 8000. Or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Grants Aid Processors

The Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O'Neill has announced grant awards totalling over £3m to 18 companies from the local agri-food processing sector. Each of the companies were successful under the Rural Development Programme's Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme (PMG). Under the Scheme financial support, up to £0.5million, can be provided for capital investment in buildings and new plant and equipment. "The funding provided under these grants will help to continue the growth and development of our agri-food sector and improve the economic performance of a sector that has shown good resilience during the recent economic downturn. This help 18 local companies invest in new buildings and plant and equipment which will help secure more opportunities for growth," she said.

Criminal Records Regime

The NI Justice Minister David Ford has published for consultation, recommendations on how to improve the management and disclosure of criminal records. The recommendations follow a review of the criminal records regime. It seeks views on a number of recommendations including whether employment vetting systems that involve AccessNI can be scaled back, made more proportionate and still provide appropriate protection to the public and whether disclosures can be made 'portable' within but not across different sectors of employment and whether police information should form part of AccessNI disclosures.

(BMcC/GK)