A Belfast resident has avoided immediate imprisonment despite being found guilty of benefit fraud exceeding £10,000.
The 51-year-old woman was convicted at Belfast Magistrates’ Court for dishonestly obtaining Universal Credit payments.
The conviction resulted from her failure to disclose capital assets whilst making benefit claims.
Rather than serving time behind bars, she received a three-month custodial sentence, suspended for one year.
The fraudulent activity came to light through an investigation conducted by the Department for Communities.
The case represents part of Northern Ireland’s ongoing efforts to combat welfare fraud.
Nora Murray, aged 51 and residing on Finaghy Road North in Belfast, was the individual convicted of claiming £10,190 through fraudulent means.
The court imposed a three-month custodial sentence, which will remain suspended provided she complies with conditions over the next twelve months.
Benefit fraud – from your wallet: Total amount lost to benefit fraud per year | GB NEWSThe Department for Communities has confirmed that Ms Murray has returned the entire sum she wrongfully obtained.
The conviction forms part of a broader crackdown on welfare fraud initiated by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.
The minister has reinstated the practice of publicly identifying those found guilty of benefit fraud, marking a shift towards what he describes as a “zero-tolerance approach” to such offences.
This policy reversal reflects the minister’s determination to tackle an issue that reportedly drains more than £160million annually from Northern Ireland’s public finances.
Britons are overpaying due to fraud and error | GB NEWSThe decision to name convicted fraudsters publicly serves as a central component of the government’s strategy to deter potential offenders and protect the integrity of the welfare system.
Speaking before the Assembly in February, Minister Lyons emphasised that benefit fraud represents “not just a financial issue, it is a moral one”.
He argued that those who defraud the system “are not stealing from a faceless institution; they are taking from their neighbours, friends, and fellow citizens”.
The minister warned that such actions “undermine the very safety net that many depend on”.
He declared: “Let me be clear: I am adopting a zero-tolerance approach. I am personally committed to rooting out fraud and ensuring that those who exploit the system are held accountable.”
