Woman’s benefit pay denied for 18 months

A destitute woman was offered a one-way train ticket to Belfast by social welfare officials after being denied benefits to which she was legally entitled.

The Irish citizen became homeless, was seen scavenging in bins for food, and was malnourished as a result of being denied the payments for 18 months.

Mary (not her real name), grew up in the North, but moved to the Republic in 2009.