Woman on income support owned houses worth €4.5m, court told

A WOMAN allegedly claiming income support owned and rented out more than 40 houses worth €4.5 million, it was revealed yesterday.

The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) in the North also claimed Frances McCluskey had two cars as well as undisclosed money in a number of bank and building society accounts.

It is understood the ARA is investigating claims Ms McCluskey received up to €115,000 in social security over the last 12 months. Details emerged after the agency was granted a High Court order to freeze her assets, which allows an interim receiver to move in to manage the properties while a further detailed inquiry is carried out in advance of a legal application to have the assets forfeited.

It is the first case of its type in Northern Ireland since the ARA took over the investigative work of social security officials.

Ms McCluskey, it is alleged, was also in receipt of other aid, including housing benefit, even though she owned 42 properties, mainly in west Belfast.

She has an address at Priory Park, off upper Lisburn Road, and traded under the name of Parkdale Homes.

The ARA alleged at the High Court in Belfast Ms McCluskey had been claiming income support benefit since 1993, but failed to declare she was trading in property and developing a substantial housing portfolio. It was also claimed she made a number of false declarations about her assets, including rental income when making mortgage applications.

The legal action is the latest crackdown by the ARA on organised crime in the North.

Northern Ireland security minister Shaun Woodward said the scale of the deception was staggering.

He said: “This was money effectively stolen from the taxpayer.”