An Enniskillen woman who claimed almost £10,000 in Income Support and Housing Benefit she wasn't entitled to has been handed a three month suspended prison sentence when she appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court.

Nicola Cunningham (25) with an address at Hillview Park appeared before the court on two charges.

The first charge was that between 13th October 2004 and 31st March 2006 the defendant failed to notify the Social Security Agency that she was working. The second charge was that between 17th October 2004 and 9th June 2006 she failed to notify the Housing Executive that she was working.

The defendant, the Court was told, claimed £5601.95 in Income Support that she wasn't entitled to, and £4428.68 Housing Benefit that she wasn't entitled to.

Defending, Garry Smyth submitted that his client had admitted the offence at an early stage, describing her as a single parent who had not had things easy.

Her instructions to him were that she had received an offer of work which she took up on a part-time basis, working hours that meant it wouldn't affect her receiving Income Support.

She was then offered extra hours which she took: "She knows that she should have informed the appropriate authorities", he acknowledged. Mr Smyth, in conclusion, said his client now knew her name has been sullied.

At this point, Resident Magistrate Liam McNally pointed out that this situation continued for over one and a half years. He told the defendant these were serious charges and that she had received substantial sums of money amounting to almost £10,000.

The defendant was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for two years, and was warned that if she committed any offence in the next two years, as well as being sentenced for that, she would start off serving three months in prison.