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  • Suspended sentence for 60-year-old woman convicted of benefit fraud at Dungannon Crown Court

    Topics:
    • Benefit fraud

    Date published: 28 September 2026

    A woman has been convicted at Dungannon Crown Court for fraudulently claiming over £52,200 in benefits.

    Deirdre Conway (60), of Claggan Lane, Cookstown, claimed Personal Independent Payment totalling £52,204.32 while exaggerating the extent of her disability. She was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, suspended for three years. 

    The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities.   

    Ms Conway 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: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/benefit-fraud.

    Notes to editors:

    1. For media enquiries please contact the Press Office: press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk
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    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.

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