International Law

Mayor fit to fiddle disability benefits

By John Hirst

Benefit fraud is a crime, no ifs no buts, claims the government. Nevertheless, this did not stop Keith McNiffe, the Mayor of Pembroke, from claiming more than £9,000 in disability benefits, whilst fit enough to be a referee and linesman at football matches. I note that his wife is Lady Mayoress, surely she must have known about her husband's fraudulent claims?

In any event, it was this statement "On his return to Pembrokeshire, Keith met and later married his wife Michelle while working at Castlemartin Camp and made his home in Monkton. They have two sons Stuart (18) and Daniel (16) who like their father are both qualified football referees and all three officiate at Pembrokeshire League matches." on the Pembroke Town council website which gave the game away by scoring an own goal. An anonymous tip off then led to the fraudster's downfall and his appearance in court.

If Keith McNiffe ends up with a custodial sentence, I'm sure his refereeing and linesman experience (albeit only at home games) will be much appreciated by other prisoners.

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on April 22, 2008 (boomark / email).