Skip to main content
Department for Communities

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • Community Service Order for benefit fraud at Coleraine Magistrates' Court

    Topics:
    • Benefit fraud

    Date published: 1 April 2026

    A man has been convicted at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court for fraudulently claiming over £7,000 in benefits he was not entitled to.

    A purple graphic featuring the words Latest News and the Department for Communities logo

    Brian O’Kane (51) of Finvola Park, Dungiven claimed Universal Credit totaling £7,662 whilst failing to declare employment. He was sentenced to 140 hours of Community Service. The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities.

    Mr O’Kane is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongly obtained to the Department.

    Suspected benefit fraud can be reported to the Department for Communities anonymously.  Find out more at: NI Direct.

    Notes to editors:

    1. For media enquiries please contact the Press Office via email.
    2. Follow the Department on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
    3. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

    Latest news

    • Lyons announces agreement for home heating oil support

      16 April 2026

    • Lyons launches photography exhibition exploring identity, belonging, and cultural heritage

      15 April 2026

    • Housing and Health Ministers welcome “life-changing” benefits of home adaptations through Disabled Facilities Grant

      13 April 2026

    • Lyons invests £200,000 for repairs to Northern Ireland’s historic churches

      8 April 2026

    More news …
    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens