They work for us...

I think I vaguely recall something about this story from last year:

A DUP politician sitting on an Assembly body responsible for scrutinising social security payments is due to appear at Belfast Magistrate’s Court today charged with benefit fraud.

East Antrim MLA David Hilditch, who is vice chair of the Stormont Social Development Committee and also sits on the Assembly’s Standards Committee, is denying the charge.

The Assemblyman is accused of failing to inform the Social Security Agency about “improvements” to his condition which would affect his entitlement to Disability Living Allowance.

Ah yes, the David Hilditch who took part in an inter-parliamentary football tournie whilst claiming DLA...?

When questioned about his involvement in the tournament last year, Mr Hilditch fended off criticism, telling this newspaper he hardly moved around on the pitch and was like a “statue”.

Bit like David Healy last week against the Magyars then.

Mr Hilditch is part of the Social Development Committee which issued a report on DLA last month which described the system as “flawed” and cited “inconsistencies” in its procedures

An interesting opinion in the circumstances.

Up until September this year Mr Hilditch sat on the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which scrutinises the use of taxpayers’ money.
While he was still a member, the PAC issued a report on fraud and error in social security benefits.
In a hearing on the subject earlier this year, Mr Hilditch asked if the penalties being imposed by courts were “a sufficient deterrent to the fraudsters”.

I’ve often wondered that as well.
Anyone heard how the case went?

And for non-Northern Irish readers, it's not really that parochial a post, who do you think is ultimately paying Mr Hilditch roughly £105,000* a year


*MLA Salary: £43000, Expenses 2007-8:£62000
(Thanks to Michael Shiliday, who also originally broke the story on Slugger)