Claims Over Border ‘Free Care’ Fraud

A Londonderry doctor has said up to 20,000 people could be living in County Donegal but fraudulently claiming free health care in Northern Ireland.

Dr Bill McConnell claimed people use false addresses in border areas like Derry and Strabane to register for free treatment with NI GPs and hospitals.

They would have to pay to see a doctor in the Republic of Ireland. There have been separate claims that families in Donegal use addresses in Derry to send children to NI schools.