CRAIGAVON Crown Court has granted a Confiscation Order against a Lurgan woman who wrongfully claimed almost £8,000 in benefits.
The Social Security Agency’s Financial Investigation Unit obtained the Order – in the sum of £8,082 – against Moya McCabe, of Gilpins Manor.
The court heard the 40-year-old had claimed Income Support on the grounds of being incapacitated from working, had no savings or other source of income.
But during her claim to benefit the defendant had failed to declare that she had been receiving a regular income from an occupational pension.
Due to her failure to report her true circumstances, McCabe received £7,852 in benefits she was not entitled to over a four year period.
The defendant – on September 9 last year – pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to declare her true circumstances. She received a nine month prison sentence suspended for two years.
At the Craigavon Crown hearing, the court granted a Confiscation Order in the amount of £8,082, with a sentence of six months in default of non-payment. McCabe now has until July 11 to satisfy the order.
