Malcolm Branley (47) of Hillview Park appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday for sentencing on three counts of failing to declare a change in his circumstances to the Social Security Services. 

The charges to three different occasions, on dates between August and October 2015 and then between September 2016 and June 2016, when he was claiming benefits while not informing the agency he was working. In total, Branley claimed £2,635 in Income Support and Carer’s Allowance during these periods. 

The court was told Branley, who on one of the occasions had worked at Grafton Recruitment and on another was working at a hospital, had said he had called the agency to let them know when he was working. 

Defence solicitor Niall Bogue said during the periods in question Branley, who was a carer for his father and is now a carer for this mother, had been going through a number of job changes. He said Branley did remember making the call to the agency, but other than that could not explain his failure to declare the changes. 

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said this was the second offence by Branely, who is now a part-time taxi driver, and he should have been more careful. He said the defendant was previously sentenced to 80 hours community service. 

Judge Ranaghan sentenced Branley to 120 hours community service, warning him if he fails to complete the hours he will be brought back before the court for sentencing and could face imprisonment.