![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/685ca9fc-eef0-44fe-ae29-d581c9c0adc6.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The defendant was handed an eight month prison sentence which was suspended for two years.<\/p>\n
A Belfast man has been convicted for claiming over \u00a317,000 in benefits he was not entitled to while \u201cliving abroad\u201d.<\/p>\n
Maurice Shannon (67) of Norfolk Way appeared before Belfast Crown Court following a probe by the Department for Communities. <\/p>\n
It found he claimed carers allowance and housing benefit rates relief totalling \u00a317,296 whilst failing to declare he was living abroad.<\/p>\n
The defendant was handed an eight month prison sentence which was suspended for two years.<\/p>\n
Mr Shannon was ordered to repay all outstanding money wrongly obtained to the department.<\/p>\n
Communities minister Gordon Lyons reintroduced the policy of naming and shaming those who commit benefit fraud as part of a new \u201czero tolerance\u201d approach.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year he outlined his intention to bring back publicising cases of those convicted of fraudulent claims.<\/p>\n
The proposals were outlined in the Assembly days after the Belfast Telegraph reported a whistleblower\u2019s concerns about \u201cmass abuse\u201d of the system.<\/p>\n
Benefit fraud in NI costs over \u00a3160m a year.<\/p>\n
Mr Lyons previously warned that \u201cwelfare fraud is not just a financial issue\u201d but \u201ca moral one\u201d.<\/p>\n
“When individuals cheat the system, they are not stealing from a faceless entity; they are taking from their neighbours, their friends, and their fellow citizens,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
“They are undermining the very safety net that so many rely on.<\/p>\n
“Therefore, let me be unequivocal: I am taking a zero-tolerance approach. I am personally committed to rooting out fraud and ensuring that those who exploit the system face the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The defendant was handed an eight month prison sentence which was suspended for two years.<\/p>\n
Belfast History Explained: The Story of the River Farset<\/p>\n
Critics have argued the approach being taken is “misguided” and risks increasing fear among benefit claimants.<\/p>\n