Benefits cheat avoids prison

Benefits cheat avoids prison

5 July 2017

A BALLYNAHINCH woman who falsely claimed thousands of pounds of benefits has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.

Elizabeth McKeown (29), who spent the weekend in jail as a judge decided her sentence, was instead ordered to do 100 hours community service along with a two-year probation order.

McKeown, who has no previous convictions, admitted two charges of making a false declaration to obtain Income Support of £15,390. 

The dishonesty aspect related to failing to declare a savings account.

Thursday’s court heard that the benefit claims were made in May and August 2010 and covered a five-year 

period, equating to around £3,000 a year. During this time McKeown, of Willow Park, had capital in excess of the statutory limit following a criminal injury pay-out.

Defence barrister, Noel Dillon, said McKeown had cooperated fully with the pre-sentence report. He presented £60 from the mother-of-two to the court and said it was all she 

was able to raise in relation to compensation since her last court appearance. He said it was not meant as a derisory gesture.

“This was all she was able to raise,” he said.

Mr Dillon said his client had endured a difficult life which may have explained her approach to the police investigation.

However, Judge Piers Grant was unmoved and said McKeown did “not really seem to have real insight into the offending behaviour”.

“I have no reason to believe there is an impairment,” he said. “This is somebody who does not think she has done anything wrong.

“She has not said she was confused. She was aware perfectly well that what she was doing was wrong. She has told a number of lies.”

Judge Grant then said he wanted more time to consider McKeown’s sentence and remanded her in custody 

until Monday.

At Monday’s hearing Judge Grant asked the woman how prison had been, and she said it was “not nice”.

“If you come back before this court or breach the terms you will be going there on a long term basis,” he said.

He said her criminal injury claim had involved a “substantial amount of money” and that being a victim of crime had had “no bearing on the matters before the court”.

“It is quite clear you have frittered that money away,” he said. “You have wasted it on luxuries”.