Not guilty

A Strabane man pleaded not guilty to an assault charge at the town's Magistrates Court on Thursday.

45 year-old Francis Doherty, of Linkside Park in Strabane, was charged with unlawfully assaulting a female on May 17. An officer from Strabane PSNI told the court that he could connect the defendant to the charge.

The case was adjourned until July 26.

Fraudulently obtained benefit

A man was convicted at Strabane Magistrates' Court for fraudulently obtaining Incapacity Benefit. Stephen Devine (37), of Melmount Road in the town had cashed duplicate cheques to the value of £164 during September 2005. He was fined £300 and ordered to pay court costs of £31. He has already started to repay the money he falsely obtained to the Social Security Agency.

This is the 166th successful conviction this year in the Agency's campaign against benefit fraud.