Sinn Fein councillor Colly Kelly denies benefit fraud charges, says his solicitor
SINN Fein councillor for Moor Colly Kelly has denied working while claiming benefits.
The Derry councillor – who celebrates his 30th birthday earlier this week – was due to face Derry Magistrates’ Court this morning, Thursday, May 21.
However, he didn’t appear for this morning’s brief hearing in front of a district judge.
Instead, his solicitor told the court that the councillor denies the charges ands stands to contest them saying he believes he has done nothing wrong.
The case has been adjourned until next month for a contest hearing.
Mr Kelly is accused of obtaining Job Seekers’ Allowance while working as a Sinn Fein councillor and claiming Housing Benefit.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between November 2010 and March 2014.
The charges Mr Kelly faces are:
| (1) Defendant between the 26th day of November 2010 and the 13th day of November 2011 in the County Court Division of DERRY, with a view to obtaining Job Seeker’s Allowance for yourself or another did dishonestly fail to promptly notify the Social Security Agency of a change in your circumstances which you knew would affect your entitlement to benefit, namely that you were working contrary to Section 105A(1A) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 |
| (2) Defendant between the 21st day of March 2011 and the 20th day of November 2011 in the County Court Division DERRY, with a view to obtaining Housing Benefit for yourself or another did dishonestly fail to promptly notify the Northern Ireland Housing Executive of a change in your circumstances which you knew would affect your entitlement to benefit, namely that you were working contrary to Section 105A(1A) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 |
| (3) Defendant on 7th day of January 2012 in the County Court Division ofDERRY, with a view to obtaining Jobseeker’s Allowance for yourself or another, dishonestly made a representation on JSA3 claim form, that you knew to be false namely that you declared that the information on the form was correct and complete whereas you failed to declare that you were working as a Sinn Fein councillor contrary to Section 105A(1) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992. |
| (4) Defendant between the 7th day of January 2012 and the 17th day of March 2014 in the County Court Division of DERRY, with a view to obtaining Job Seeker’s Allowance for yourself or another did dishonestly fail to promptly notify the Social Security Agency of a change in your circumstances which you knew would affect your entitlement to benefit, namely that you were working contrary to Section 105A(1A) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 |
| (5) Defendant between the 8th day of January 2012 and the 23rd day of March 2014 in the County Court Division DERRY, with a view to obtaining Housing Benefit for yourself or another did dishonestly fail to promptly notify the Northern Ireland Housing Executive of a change in your circumstances which you knew would affect your entitlement to benefit, namely that you were working contrary to Section 105A(1A) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 |
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