A DERRY woman has been given six months to pay back over £17,000 in benefit fraud.
But if she fails to pay up she will go to jail for a year.
The Social Security Agency Financial Investigation Unit originally obtained a confiscation Order to the value of £1.00 against Alison McLaughlin (51) of Glenfada Park, at Derry Crown Court on 15 June 2012.
The FIU reconsidered the case, based on information which showed that the defendant had equity in her property, following the lapsing of a charge that was held against it.
Financial Investigations Unit has now successfully obtained a variation on the original Confiscation Order at Derry Crown Court.
The variation order requires the defendant to pay an additional sum of £17,603 on or before 15 March 2016.
She will serve a 12 month prison sentence should she default on the payment.
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