On this day in Northern Ireland news history

Justice Minister 'Not Fighting The Corner For Police' – UUP
Justice Minister, Naomi Long, has been accused of "simply not fighting the corner for police", by Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader, Doug Beattie.

Appeal For Information On Newry Petrol Bomb Attack
The PSNI have issued an appeal for information and witnesses following a report of a petrol bomb incident in Newry on Tuesday, 13 August. Shortly after 00:20am, it was reported to police that three men approached a white BMW car parked in the Helen's Terrace area.

SDLP Welcomes New Childcare Subsidy Scheme
The SDLP has welcomed the announcement of Northern Ireland's new Childcare Subsidy Scheme, but said that it was "only part" of a package of support needed to help working families.

Infrastructure Minister Meets With Road Safe NI
Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has met with Road Safe NI to discuss ongoing efforts to address road safety across Northern Ireland.

International Airport Recognised For Commitment To Biodiversity
Belfast International Airport has been recognised for its commitment to biodiversity having been awarded silver level in the Business & Biodiversity Charter, an external assessment of an organisation's commitment to improve biodiversity conservation in Northern Ireland.

NI Water Volunteer With RSPB For Environmental Works
NI Water's North Foreshore One Team, who are working on designs for the upgrade of Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) at Whitehouse, Carrickfergus and Greenisland, have volunteered to support the RSPB.

Exploring The Most Popular Casino Games
For a very long time casino gaming has been a significant part of Britain's entertainment culture. It can be spotted from the grandiose ballrooms of London to the stay-up casinos of Northern Ireland, that gambling remains a favoured sport in the United Kingdom.

Two Men Arrested In Connection With Aggravated Burglary In L'Derry
Two men has been arrested in connection with an aggravated burglary in L'Derry on Sunday, 11 August. Just before midnight, police received a report that a member of the public had been approached by a distressed woman who stated that men were in her home trying to attack her husband.

Man Wanted In NI Arrested In Dublin
A 60-year-old man wanted in Northern Ireland for being unlawfully at large from prison has been arrested in Dublin. An Garda Siochana arrested the man on an extradition warrant from the PSNI, who sought the man in connection with a murder conviction from 1990.

QUB Play Key Role In 'First Inventory Of The Universe'
Queen's University Belfast will play a key role in the "first inventory of the Universe" recorded by the world's largest digital camera.

New Multisensory Centre For Rural Communities
Edwin Poots has visited a new multisensory centre for people with learning, physical and sensory disabilities to see how a grant of almost £40,000 is being invested.

Harland & Wolff Owners Name New Board Member
The owners of iconic Belfast shipyard firm Harland & Wolff have added a new experienced member to its Board of Directors.

Rise In Covid-Related Deaths
The number of deaths related to Covid-19 has risen in Northern Ireland, according to the latest NISRA figures.

Climate Crisis No Longer 'A Looming Threat'
The climate crisis is no longer "a looming threat" Alliance MLA John Blair has said, adding that the "refusal to act at the pace the science demands is deadly". Making a call for action, Mr Blair said: "In 2020, extreme weather events uprooted 30.

SF Call For UN Experts To Be Invited For Legacy Talks
Sinn Féin Vice President and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has called for UN experts to be invited to the north to take part in ongoing legacy talks and speak with victims' families.

Blocked Drain Causes Flooding At Belfast Bar
A bar in Belfast city centre has issued an appeal over a blocked drain which is continuing to flood its outdoor seating area. The Deer's Head took to their social media to ask for clarity over the situation.

PSNI Called To Investigate Funeral Of James McWilliams
The PSNI has been urged to investigate events at the funeral of James McWilliams in Belfast.

Executive Agree Further Restriction Relaxations
A 1% increase in vaccine uptake will reduce the number of cases and hospital admissions by around 10% – the Executive has highlighted as they re-emphasized the importance of people getting fully vaccinated and continuing to follow the public health advice.

Govt To Guarantee Succesful Horizon 2020 Bids
The government has announced that it will guarantee funding for successful competitive UK bids to Horizon 2020 that are submitted before the UK leaves the European Union (EU), in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Tech Firm Chargifi To Create New Jobs In Belfast
More than 40 new jobs are to be created in Belfast by Chargifi a leading provider of cloud-connected wireless charging technology. The firm also announced an investment of £3.6 million in a new Technology and Business Development Hub.

Body Found In Search For Nora Quoirin
A body has been found this morning in the search for missing teenager Nora Quoirin. Malaysian police said the body was found near the Dusan resort where the vulnerable 15-year-old disappeared from nine days ago.

Giants Causeway Ranked Third Most Incredible Sight In The UK
The Giant's Causeway has been named the UK's third most incredible sight by Lonely Planet. The travel publisher compiled a list of the 500 most unmissable experiences and hidden gems across the UK, with sights across Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands recognised.

Petrol Bombs Thrown At Police
A large number of petrol bombs have been thrown at police during a third night of disorder in L'Derry. A total of 24 petrol bombs and six paint bombs were thrown in the streets in the vicinity of the City Walls as trouble continues in the Bogside area.

Appeal As Car Collides With Roundabout
Police are investigating the circumstances of a collision which saw a car end up on top of a roundabout near the Belfast International Airport. The single vehicle crash happened at the Tully Road/ Airport Road roundabout in County Antrim yesterday, Monday 12 August.

NIAS Operating With Reduced Crews
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service operated with major staff shortages for a fourth consecutive night on Monday 12 August.

Armagh House Attacked In Racist Hate Crime
The home of a Syrian family living in Armagh has been attacked for the second time in as many days in what police are treating as a racially motivated hate crime. Windows were smashed at the property in Alexander Avenue at around 1.40am on Monday morning, 12 August.

Invest NI Launch Roadshow On Hong Kong Business of Design Week 2019
The Department for International Trade (DIT) have announced the details of a UK roadshow to mark the launch of UK's partnership with Hong Kong's Business of Design Week (BODW) 2019.

DUP Leadership Questioned Over Support For Ian Paisley Event
Sinn Féin has called on the DUP leadership to clarify whether they endorse a support event for suspended MP Ian Paisley, which is due to take place tonight, Monday 13 August.

Omagh Bombing Memorial Service Held
A memorial service has been held to mark the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. The names of the 29 people killed in the attack in August, 1998, were read one by one as wreaths were laid at the memorial gardens in the Co Tyrone town.

14-Year-Old Charged In Connection With Series Of Street Robberies
Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with a number of street robberies in Belfast city centre. A 14-year-old boy has been charged with robbery, attempted robbery and possession of both a knife and firearm – said to have been a pellet gun.

Witnesses Sought To Serious Incident In Ballycarry
The PSNI have issued an appeal for witnesses following an altercation on Main Street in Ballycarry shortly after 1am on Saturday, 11 August. It was reported that an altercation took place between a number of people outside a public house on the street.

Two Charged In Connection With £1m Cannabis Seizure
A 37-year-old woman and 48-year-old man are due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court charged in connection with a major drug seizure in South Belfast. As part of a proactive police operation, detectives from PSNI's Organised Crime Branch, seized cannabis worth an estimated £1 million.

21st Annual European Heritage Open Day Launched
The Department for Communities has announced details of the 21st annual European Heritage Open Day, taking place across Northern Ireland on the 08–09 September. With over 300 venues taking part, this is one of Northern Ireland's largest free events open to the public.

Twelve Vintage Tractors Stolen In Co Down
The PSNI have have issued an appeal for information following the theft of a large amount of farm machinery from a property on the Killynure Road in Carryduff. Making the appeal, Chief Inspector Jonathan Wilson, said: "The theft was reported to us just after 5pm on Thursday 09 August.

Man Killed In East Belfast Shooting
A murder investigation has been launched following the fatal shooting of a man in east Belfast. The victim, who has been named as Kevin McGuigan Sr, 50, was shot in the Comber Court area of the Short Strand just before 9pm on Wednesday evening.

Man Dies After Being Struck By Lorry In Ballynahinch
A man has died after he was hit by a lorry in Ballynahinch, Co Down. The crash happened on Windmill Street at around 11am. The driver may not have been aware of the collision and drove through the centre of Ballynahinch, according to the police.

Belfast Carnival Village To Transform Ormeau Park
Belfast Carnival Village will transform an area in Ormeau Park in June 2016 into a colourful carnival village, a theatrical set with structures that depict Belfast landmarks such as H&W Cranes and the Albert Clock.

Concern Over Possible Redundancies At L'Derry Engineering Firm
Unite the union is concerned over possible redundancies at Maydown Precision Engineering in L'Derry. Members of the firm received letters last week over the possibility of 133 job losses.

Over 400 Pigs Killed In Blaze In Strabane
Over 400 pigs have been killed in a blaze near Strabane, Co Tyrone. The incident occurred on the Melmount Road in the early hours of Thursday morning. 33 sows and 420 piglets died, however, several other animals were rescued.

Increase In Overall Pass Rate In A And AS Level Results
There has been an increase in the overall pass rate in students receiving A and AS Levels results in Northern Ireland. Education Minister John O'Dowd congratulated the thousands of young people on their achievements.

North Belfast Fire Started 'Deliberately'
A fire at an old factory site in north Belfast was started deliberately, according to the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS). Residents had to ensure their windows and doors were closed as firefighters were putting out the blaze in the Oldpark Road area on Wednesday.

Green Party Calls For Animal Cruelty Register
The Green Party is calling for an animal cruelty register after it was revealed the man responsible for the attack on Cody the border collie was freed from prison. Cody was doused in fuel and set on fire.

Environment Minister Calls On London To Resolve DVA 'Issues'
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has said the Minister for Transport in London must deal with problems being faced by people in Northern Ireland over the licensing of vehicles, since the Drive Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea took on responsibility.

Dairy Industry Still Calculating Effects Of Russia Ban - UFU
The UK dairy industry is still attempting to calculate the effect of the current ban on EU agri-foods being imported to Russia, the deputy president of the Ulster Farmers' Union has said.

Pubs Of Ulster Issues A-Level Results Warning
Pubs of Ulster today has issued a reminder to the pubs and clubs of Northern Ireland to be extra vigilant during exam results day. Thousands of students will be receiving their A level results on 14 August and will undoubtedly be heading into city centres and towns to celebrate.

NI Firms Break Records At UK Great Taste Awards
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster has announced that Northern Ireland food and drink companies have broken all previous records in this year’s UK Great Taste Awards.

DRD Announce New Causeway Walk And Cycle Path
A new walkway and cycle path is to be built at the Giant's Causeway, it has been announced. The proposed foot and bike route will be over two miles long and run from the Causeway to the Aird.

'Grenade' Found In Church Graveyard
Police have carried out a controlled explosion on a grenade that was found during a security alert at a graveyard in Coleraine, County L'Derry.

QUB Releases A Level Results Advice
Secondary school students across Northern Ireland will be receiving their A-level results on Thursday 14 August, and Queen's University Belfast has issued advice to those awaiting grades.

Man Arrested Following Two Vehicle Crash
An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a road crash in County Antrim that left a teenage girl critically injured. The collision occurred between a black Hyundai Santa Fe and a blue Renault Clio on the Slaughterford Road in Whitehead, just before 21:00 on Monday evening.

'Preferred Applicants' For West Gas Project Announced
Northern Ireland Energy Holdings and Scotia Gas Networks have been selected as the 'preferred applicants' for a project to extend the gas network to the west of the region, including Dungannon, Coalisland, Cookstown, Magherafelt, Omagh, Strabane, Enniskillen, and Derrylin.

NI Unemployment Drops 0.5%
Unemployment in Northern Ireland dropped 0.5% to 6.7% for the period April - June 2014, according to the latest Labour Force Survey. The figure is down 0.5% from the rate recorded in the previous quarter (7.2%) and down 0.8% from the rate recorded one year ago (7.5%).

Unionists Complain Over Kelly IRA Speech
Unionist politicians have lodged a formal complaint to the Assembly standards watchdog, following a speech by Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly at an IRA memorial parade.

£3.6m To Tackle Alcohol Misuse
The Big Lottery Fund has announced a new multi-million funding package to tackle the problem of alcohol misuse across Northern Ireland. £3,605,696 of grants from the Impact of Alcohol programme will be delivered to Northern Ireland by four organisations.

ESB To Represent Ireland At The European Business Awards
The European Business Awards has announced that ESB is to represent Ireland as a National Champion in the prestigious 2013/2014 Awards programme.

Belfast Children Pick Up Unexploded Bomb
Two children are thought to have picked up an unexploded bomb that was thrown at a police station in west Belfast. A pair of devices were thrown at Woodbourne Police Station on Monday night. Police say children picked up the unexploded device and brought it to the front of the station.

'Missing' Tyrone Woman On Peru Drug Charges
A video has been released of two women currently accused of smuggling over £1.5m of cocaine in Peru.

PSNI Release Images Following Public Disorder
The PSNI has released images of 18 individuals as part of Operation Titan investigations into riotous and disorderly behaviour, in connection with recent public disorder in east Belfast. So far, 90 people have been arrested as part of the investigation.

Dublin Firm Creates 70 NI Jobs
70 jobs are to be created in Northern Ireland by a Dublin-based facilities management business. The move is also expected to secure 230 existing jobs. The news comes as Noonan Services secures new contracts and invests £500,000 in new equipment.

Queen's Among 15 Top UK Universities
Queen’s University Belfast has been placed among the top 15 universities in the UK according to the National Student Survey (NSS). Queen’s achieved an overall satisfaction score of 90%, putting it one percentage point behind the University of Oxford.

SDLP Supports Parades Call
SDLP Party Leader Alasdair McDonnell has publicly supported calls from the Chairman of the Police Federation, Terry Spence, to postpone all contentious parades over the next six months.

Department Warns Over Bogus JobCentre Scam
The Department for Employment and Learning has warned the public over a bogus entry on its JobCentre Online website. A false company posing as a legitimate employer recently posted a vacancy on the jobseekers' website, to which a number of clients have responded.

Rachel Plunges Into Hudson
Charity worker Rachel Smith is poised to take the plunge - she will be diving into the Hudson River in New York next month for a 10km swim for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland.

Lisburn Pipe Band Wins World Championship Title
A pipe band from Lisburn has won the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow. The Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band claimed the title for the seventh time, in front of an estimated 35,000 people at the weekend. The band beat Scottish Power into second place at the annual event.

Wrightbus Wins Singapore Contract
A Ballymena company has secured a three-year contract worth £41m to supply 550 double-decker buses to Singapore. Wrightbus, which previously designed new buses for London and supplied UK company FirstGroup, will be the main supplier of the vehicles to SBS Transit.

One-Fifth Of Child Sexual Assaults Done By Family
Almost one in five of sexual assaults against children in Northern Ireland are carried out by a member of the child's immediate family, research suggests. The NSPCC analysed police data to assess crimes against children between 2008 and 2010.

Sean Quinn 'Still Living In Republic'
Sean Quinn has dismissed claims that he has fled the Republic and set up home in Co Fermanagh, the Belfast Telegraph has reported. The bankrupt businessman was seen at his mansion in Ballyconnell last week.

'Culture Of Fear' For Firefighters At Work
Staff at the Northern Ireland Fire Service are working in a "culture of fear and mistrust", a report has found. An investigation carried out by the Department of Health also highlighted unauthorised bonuses and outstanding grievances as causes for concern in the organization.

Hero's Welcomes For NI Olympic Medal-Winners
Belfast's Olympic medal-winning boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan will arrive home to a hero's welcome today. They will unveil their bronze medals at Titanic Belfast at 5.30pm today and tomorrow they will be taken on a victory lap of the city.

McIlroy's PGA Win Leaves Him 'Speechless'
Holywood golfer Rory McIlroy has won the US PGA tournament. The 23-year-old added the title to his US Open win from last year, meaning he has now won two majors earlier in life than Tiger Woods did it. He is the fifth youngest player in history to win two majors.

Paralympic Torch To Visit Belfast
The Olympics are done and dusted. Medals have been lost and won, reputations made and sport has become the centre of conversations and viewing schedules around the world. Next come the Paralympics.

Foster Welcomes New £41m Contract For Wrightbus
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has congratulated Ballymena-based bus builders Wrightbus on securing a new £41million contract to supply 550 double deck bus kits to SBS Transit for assembly in Singapore.

Derry Man Denies Strand Road Bombing
A 42-year-old man was refused bail today when he appeared at Londonderry Magistrates' Court charged with bombing a police station in the city earlier this month.

Migrant Mum Dies In Latest Stabbing
The latest incident in a violent week has left a woman dead after being stabbed in Co Tyrone. She was killed and a man left critically ill after an incident in Dungannon yesterday. The victim was found in the Merron Mews area at 3.

Coffee Is Hot News For McNicholl
A Co Antrim shop fitter is toasting success this week with news that it has secured a deal worth €500,000 to install Costa Coffee outlets within six Applegreen motorway service stations in the Republic of Ireland.

Prison Deal Halts Derry Protest
A so-called 'dirty protest' being staged by dissident republican prisoners at Co Antrim's Maghaberry prison (pictured) has ended after three weeks of talks.

'Consult Community' Call Follows Club Fire
There has been a call for local consultation should a west Belfast social club at the centre of an arson probe be rebuilt after being extensively damaged.

Murphy Protest Sparks Police 'Guard'
A freed convicted rapist was last night under 'police protection' as gardaí "maintained a presence" outside a residential unit for former prisoners in Dublin.

A8 Upgrade Facing Funding Review
A multi-million pound road project in Co Antrim may be facing a roadblock with news that its progress now depends on the outcome of a UK-wide spending review later this year.

Coffee Is Hot News For McNicholl
A Co Antrim shop fitter is toasting success this week with news that it has secured a deal worth €500,000 to install Costa Coffee outlets within six Applegreen motorway service stations in the Republic of Ireland.

Narrow Water Gets Facelift
An iconic piece of NI's heritage is to enjoy an upgrade with work about to begin on the amenity site to improve the visitor experience at Narrow Water Castle, Warrenpoint.

Derry Construction Projects Boosted
Continuing public sector investment in the North West plays a key role in transforming the UK City of Culture 2013, NI Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson has said.

Draperstown Gets Workspace Boost
A new workspace development in Draperstown could create up to 35 jobs and help to stimulate economic growth in the local area. That was the message from Stormont Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster, when she officially opened the 8,500 square foot development, this week.

Fresh McDaid Arrest Made
Police have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the murder of Coleraine father-of-four Kevin McDaid. Detectives detained the man in the town last night. This brings the total number of arrests over the killing to 25. Mr McDaid was beaten to death by a loyalist mob in May.

City Centre Assault Probed
A busy Belfast city centre street remained cordoned off for part of this morning as police investigated a late night assault. Traffic was redirected past Upper Arthur Street following the attack, which was reported to police at around 3.30am.

'Orwellian' Police Cameras In Use
Digital cameras - mounted on police officers' shoulders - are being deployed across a large suburban area of Co Antrim.

Rasharkin Parade Gets Green Light
It has emerged that a contentious loyal order parade in Co Antrim is to be allowed. And while a protest is expected to be staged by a residents' association based in the village of Rasharkin, the NI Parades Commission has again ruled in favour of the previously contested march.

Safety Appeal As Grand Prix Revs-up
There has been an appeal for race-going motorcyclists to 'drive carefully'. The NI Environment Minister Edwin Poots (pictured) has appealed to bikers to take care on the roads as they travel to and from the Ulster Grand Prix.

Tory Link To Unionists 'Tested'
As a general election begins to look increasingly likely, the much anticipated electoral alliance between the Ulster Unionists (UUP) and Conservatives is to face its biggest test to date.

Trains 'Packed Out' For Tall Ships
There will be as many as half a million people in Belfast over the coming days for a glimpse of 40 majestic wooden ships during the four-day Tall Ships Maritime Festival.

Focus On Deprived, Says Health Charity
Those most at risk of stroke are often also the worst off financially. On foot of a survey which shows that men in deprived areas are more than three times more likely to die of stroke than men in the wealthiest areas, there has been a call to focus resources on this group.

Draperstown Gets Workspace Boost
A new workspace development in Draperstown could create up to 35 jobs and help to stimulate economic growth in the local area. That was the message from Stormont Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster, (pictured) when she officially opened the 8,500 square foot development, this week.

Republican Dissidents 'Rounded-Up', But Deadly Threat Remains
Around 40 dissident republican activists have been arrested by the PSNI this year to date. The news emerged as PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde made clear the dangers that remain from IRA breakaway groups.

Missing Data Probed
While the NI Probation Board (PBNI) has launched an investigation after a computer memory stick holding information about an offender was misplaced in Londonderry, staff involved in a larger scale 'loss' across the Irish border have escaped official censure.

Clergy Do 'U-Turn' On Omagh Bomb Sunday Service
An attempt has been made to heal division over this week's commemorations of the Omagh bomb atrocity. Church leaders in Omagh have now reversed their decision to stay away from a 10th anniversary service for victims of the bomb.

Woodward's Departure Could Spell End Of NIO
Stormont Castle (pictured) may soon bid farewell to the very last Northern Ireland Office (NIO) Secretary of State since the imposition of Direct Rule well over three decades ago.

NI Property Slump 'Faring' Better Than Rest Of UK
Market indicators have suggested the Northern Ireland 'property crash' is experiencing a decelerated pace of decline than other parts of the UK.

NI Employment Rises
The latest labour market estimates for Northern Ireland show a slight increase in employment levels and a fall in unemployment over the quarter. The Northern Ireland unemployment rate also still remains below the United Kingdom average.

City Cemetery Opens Again For Visitors
Mourners from across Northern Ireland who have loved ones buried at Belfast City Cemetery - but have often been afraid or unable to tend their graves down the years because of the Troubles - are being invited along to a special Open Day this Sunday.

Antrim Town Centre Access To Improve
Plans to improve access and movement in and around Antrim town centre have been devised by the NI Roads Service. An Accessibility Sub-Group, set up by Antrim Borough Council, has been working with various government agencies and local traders to address the issue.

Country Matters Up For Debate
Communities, organisations and individuals with an interest in rural areas are being encouraged to air their views on how issues affecting them could be championed inside and outside government.

SDLP Assembly Member ‘Threatened' By Loyalists
An East Londonderry MLA has revealed he has been warned by police that his life may be under threat from loyalists. John Dallat, from the SDLP was told that “loyalist elements” were gathering information at his home and tracking his movements. He was given the news while on a trip to Bosnia.

Father In Uproar Over Community Funding
The father of a murdered schoolboy has urged the Irish government to change its decision over funding to a loyalist community. 15-year-old Thomas Devlin was stabbed in the back five times as he walked home in 10 August 2005, and no one has been convicted of the murder.

Teenager Rescued From House Fire
A 15-year-old girl escaped injury after a neighbour rescued her from a house fire in County Antrim. The man noticed the fire, at a house in Coronation Gardens near Lisburn, around 5.20am on Sunday morning.

QUB Student Jailed For ‘Mooning’
A Queens University student has been imprisoned in Africa after allegedly “mooning” at the home of a Senegalese governor. Patrick Devine, 19, from Dunfanaghy in Donegal was arrested on 27 July for allegedly dropping his trousers as a dare outside the house in Saint Louis, Senegal.

Republicans Take Part In 'March For Truth'
Republicans took to the streets yesterday to demand 'closure' on any state roles in murders and collusion during the Troubles in a 'March for Truth Rally'.

Residents Call For Flood Prevention
Residents in the Stoneyford area in Co Antrim are asking for flood prevention work to begin as soon as possible. It comes after heavy rain flooded many homes at Stone Bridge Meadows on Saturday night. This is the sixth time heavy flooding has occured in the last four years.

£77M Lisburn Housing Strategy Launched
A £77 million housing strategy for Lisburn is being prepared to be launched in an attempt to halt an exodus of young families from the city.

Co Armagh Firm Exports Dumper Truck
Invest Northern Ireland has helped a County Armagh company to enter new markets and generate £480,000 of export sales after launching a new product, which is the first of its kind to be manufactured in Northern Ireland.

O’Briens To Open Largest Store At Victoria Square
Belfast is set to take a huge bite out of the world’s sandwich market with the announcement that O’Briens is to open its largest store in the world at Victoria Square.

Parades Commission amends Ardoyne decision
The Parades Commission is to allow members of a loyal order parade to pass through a predominantly Catholic area of north Belfast this weekend.

Daughter of Enniskillen bomb victim meets with police
A relative of one of those killed in the Enniskillen Poppy Day bombing 17 years ago has met senior police officers to discuss the ongoing investigation into the tragedy.

Petrol bombs thrown into housing estate
Police are appealing for information after three petrol bombs were thrown into a Protestant housing estate in Londonderry last night. Two of the devices, which were thrown into the Fountain estate shortly before midnight on Thursday, failed to ignite and were taken away for examination by police.

Government introduces wild animal legislation
New legislation on the keeping of dangerous wild animals in Northern Ireland is set to be introduced.

DUP urges government to get tough on drug dealing
DUP assembly member for North Down, Peter Weir, has called on the government to introduce more stringent sentences for people convicted of selling illegal drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine.

Primark scraps junior pay rates
Fashion retailer Primark has scrapped all junior rates of pay at its stores in Northern Ireland.

Glens face Euro struggle following defeat
Glentoran face an uphill struggle to qualify for the first round proper of the Uefa Cup after losing 1-0 to Swedish side Elfsborg in their second qualifying round, first leg tie at the Oval last night.

Clarke leads USPGA following impressive first round
Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke is sitting proudly on top of the USPGA leader board following an impressive first round seven-under par 65 at Whistling Straits.

UU student skies her way to success
A University of Ulster physiotherapy student has water-skied her way into the record books at the recent Irish National Water-Skiing Championships 2004. Laura McLernon won both the Open Ladies Slalom and the Open Ladies Jump disciplines by breaking her own national record with a score of 4.

Minister meets with families of Omagh bomb victims
A government minister has met with the families of those killed in the Omagh bombing today.

Loyalists thought to be behind pipe bomb attacks
Loyalist paramilitaries are thought to have been behind two separate, but connected, pipe bomb attacks in Londonderry early this morning.

Adair's wife takes Bolton Council to court
The wife of jailed loyalist, Johnny Adair has taken an English council to court today after it refused her a house. Gina Adair fled to Bolton in England alongside a number of her husband's supporters following an internal UDA feud. However her time in England has not run smoothly.

Businesses encouraged to help tackle crime
Regional business crime reduction advisers will be employed throughout England and Wales, under the government's new business crime strategy launched today.

Police offer reward into NI man's murder
Police in England are offering a £10,000 reward for information into the murder of a Northern Ireland man one year ago. Thomas Breen, 50, was stabbed outside the Elephant's Head pub in Camden, north London, on August 10, 2002 after being caught in an altercation between two other individuals.

Central Station device declared a hoax
A suspect package found at Belfast's Central Station this morning has been declared a hoax. Army technical experts examined the device which was found on a train close to platform four at around 11.20am.

Two men arrested following pensioner robbery
Two men have been arrested in connection to the robbery of a pensioner's home in Co Down yesterday. The 93-year-old man suffered cuts to his ear and an arm injury when he confronted two men who had climbed through a bedroom window at his Hillsborough home at around 8.45am on Tuesday.

Unemployment figures fall despite recent jobs cuts
The number of people unemployed in Northern Ireland has fallen, according to latest Labour Force Figures. Seasonally adjusted figures released this morning for the period April – June 2003 show there are approximately 40,000 people unemployed, a fall of 1,000 from the estimate one year earlier.

£9m funding to battle NI's biggest killers
The battle against three of Northern Ireland’s biggest killers is being boosted today thanks to a £9 million investment from the New Opportunities Fund. The National Lottery ‘good cause’ distributor has pumped more than £8.

NI exam results helpline launched
A helpline has been set up by Northern Ireland’s exams body to deal with exams results concerns from students.

DoE warn bikers on eve of Ulster Grand Prix
The Department of Environment (DoE) has warned that "speed is for the race track, not for open roads" as hundreds of bikers travel to this weekend's Ulster Grand Prix in Dundrod.

Motorist warned to plan journeys ahead of road closures
The Roads Service has warned motorists to plan their journeys ahead as a series of road closures take place along the M1 and the M2/M5 foreshore motorway next weekend.

'Renewal programme' gets underway at Foyleside M&S
Work has commenced on a major development at the Marks & Spencer store in Londonderry estimated at over £500,000.

Minister urges local participation in Lottery funding ideas
Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister, Michael McGimpsey, has urged the people of Northern Ireland to contribute to the national debate on how to reform the way in which National Lottery money is distributed to good causes.

Student dies 10 days after assault in Portrush
The 20-year-old student who was assaulted 10 days ago outside Kellys nightclub in Portrush has died. Chris Whitson, from Strathmore Park in Belfast, succumbed to the injuries he received during a fight which occurred in the car park of the disco on August 3.

Garage forecourt blaze destroys sixteen cars
A blaze at garage forecourt in County Londonderry has destroyed sixteen cars. The fire, said to be malicious, was discovered at around 1am in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Main Street, Garvagh.

McIlroy announces NI squad for Cyprus friendly
Sammy McIlroy has announced his 20-man Northern Ireland squad for next week's friendly against Cyprus at Windsor Park.

Co Antrim man arrested in child porn swoop
Police have arrested a County Antrim man as part of a UK-wide crackdown on child pornography. The 29-year-old man was arrested this morning and several items were removed from the house after the swoop. The police swoop was part of an operation which started at 7am this morning.

Retail conference boosted by Energia backing
The Neighbourhood Retailing Conference has been boosted by the news that electricity supply company Energia will be backing the event.

Loyalist Commission meets Lord Mayor over sectarian strife
Loyalist representatives have met Belfast's Sinn Fein Lord Mayor Alex Maskey in order to ease sectarian tensions throughout the city.

Floating resort liner arrives in Belfast
Belfast harbour may not have seen its like for 90 years or so, but when the world's most curious maritime vessel anchored today it brought some of the world's richest passengers with it.

Juvenile rape accused released on bail
The two teenagers charged in connection to the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Ballycastle have been released on bail from Ballymena Magistrate's Court. A 14-year-old juvenile, who was charged with rape and burglary with intent to commit rape, did not reply when the charge was put to him.

Hong Kong software deal for Sx3
Leading technology provider, Sx3 has won a major contract in Hong Kong which aims to address some of the housing problems faced by the Chinese territory.

Omagh Victims to sue Real IRA
The families of the victims of the Omagh bomb have issued a writ against those they believe are responsible for the death of their loved ones.

New Deal programme helps with return to work
"When you feel that people aren’t even replying to your applications because of your age, it boosts your ego to be part of a company. You feel part of life again," says Jim Green, who has just completed the government’s New Deal programme and is now employed full-time by BS Tooling in Mallusk.

Minister announces two annual business reports
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Harney has announced two annual reports, one on competition and the other on mergers.

Sinn Féin declare they will not bow to pressure
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has said there is little optimism of a breakthrough on the decommissioning issue despite Northern Ireland Assembly members and ministers returning to work on Monday after a 48 hour suspension.

Nationalist rally interrupted in north Belfast
A short-lived loyalist protest in north Belfast interrupted a major nationalist rally at the weekend commemorating the 20th anniversary of the hunger strikes.

Consignia moves to centralise call centres
Consignia is to rationalise its call centre operations in a bid to streamline all the company’s call handling operations. As part of a rationalisation plan Consignia is understood to be poised to shed some 250 jobs as the company closes call centres in an attempt to cut operating costs.

Causeway Technologies acquires Cornix Brickfinder
UK-based Causeway Technologies have announced the acquisition of the entire share capital of software development company Cornix. Set up in 1997, Cornix’s main product the Brickfinder software package supplies the construction and architectural sectors with high-speed brick matching capabilities.

Assembly re-instated after turbulent 48 hours
Northern Ireland Assembly ministers returned to their posts on Monday following a 48-hour long suspension to give all the political parties time to reflect.

Three men hospitalised following shooting attacks
Three men are in hospital after paramilitary-style attacks in north Belfast on Sunday August 12. In the first attack two men aged 39 and 21 were treated for gunshot wounds to the leg after they were shot in the Parkmount area of Greencastle in the northern outskirts of the city.

Report shows Northern Ireland teens top drug abuse table
A new health report published this week shows shocking statistics that more children in Northern Ireland abuse solvents than anywhere else in the UK.

Warning signs indicate end of eight-year fall in unemployment
Recent figures released could be an indication that the eight-year fall in unemployment may be over.

Walker Cup triumph for amateur golfers
Great Britain and Ireland's amateur golfers have retained the Walker Cup for the first time in nearly 80 years.

UK producer prices show marginal fall
Overall UK manufacturing prices fell by 0.2 per cent in July from those from June. According to the latest figures available form the Office for National Statistics the past year has seen the prices charged to manufacturers, the input prices, fall for the first time in over two years.

Counterfeit computer games factory busted
A multi-agency approach involving Greater Manchester Police, Manchester, Trading Standards and the European Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), has successfully busted a 'mini-factory' producing copied counterfeit games software.

Smaller manufacturers under “extreme pressure”
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said that smaller manufacturers are under "extreme pressure" as the global economic slowdown continues to hit Britain.

Bayer shares dive as drug linked to further deaths
Bayer shares took a nosedive on the stock market as the German chemical and pharmaceutical firm admitted that its anti-cholesterol drug Baycol/Lipobay could be linked to the deaths of 52 people.

Political parties climb back into the Agreement arena
Following the suspension and then reinstatement of the Assembly on Monday, Sinn Féin has challenged the British government to act on their assurances to implement the Good Friday Agreement.