Road Tragedy Chaos

Traffic chaos in Newtownabbey is anticipated this evening as drivers are diverted from a busy junction after an earlier road tragedy. The PSNI said this afternoon that a woman had been killled in the accident, at the Rushpark Roundabout, just outside Whiteabbey, at about 1pm on Thursday. It is understood three cars were involved in the accident and all roads leading to Rushpark Roundabout have been closed. This includes the M5 and A2 Shore Road between Doagh Road and Station Road. Motorists can expect severe delays around the area.

CIT Guard Stabbed

PSNI detectives in south Belfast are appealing for information following an armed robbery of a cash-in-transit van at Shane Retail Park, Boucher Road. It happened at approximately 12.40pm on Wednesday afternoon when two males armed with knives attacked cash-in-transit (CIT) staff and made off with a cash box in a dark coloured car. A 36-year-old male staff member sustained a stab wound to his side during the incident, but his injuries are not believed to be life threatening. The robbers failed to get any money as the cash box and contents were recovered from the retail park. Later, a black Vauxhall Vectra car was found abandoned and on fire in the Norglen Court area of Ballymurphy and is believed to be linked to the robbery. Anyone who witnessed the robbery or has information in relation to it should contact the police on 0845 600 8000. Information about crime can also be passed anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Sister Act

Hospital ward sisters have been 'given their place' this week by being shown as very much 'in charge' of their respective part of a hospital. Speaking at a conference in the Kings Hall, Belfast, where the updated role of the ward sister was explored, NI Health Michael McGimpsey said: "I believe that the ward sister is the authority figure on the ward. You are in charge," he said, noting that a £2m recurrent fund was in place for this role. "The public want someone who is responsible for the running of the ward, the standard of cleanliness in that ward and to support patients as they recover from their illness," he continued. "Ward sisters and charge nurses across Northern Ireland now have the support to take charge of their ward and this will make a great difference to the patient experience."

Hijacking Probed

A red Peugeot Partner delivery van was highjacked earlier this week by two men - one armed with a brick - who forced the driver and a colleague to hand over the keys to the van, which contained several thousand pounds worth of cigarettes. They had just stepped into their parked van on the Falls Road close to the Waterford Street junction by the assailants who were understood to have used a Toyota Avensis car. Both vehicles sustained damage as they struck each other when being driven away from the scene by the thieves. A similar vehicle, understood to be stolen, was discovered abandoned at Bread Street a short time later and was recovered by police for further examination. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing. The stolen van has not yet been recovered.

Patterson Meets Adams

Relatives of those killed in what has become known as the Ballymurphy Massacre will meet NIO boss Owen Paterson this afternoon. The Stormont House event will see a delegation being accompanied by Sinn Fein West Belfast MP Gerry Adams who is facilitating the meeting. "Two days after the introduction of internment in 1971, 11 people, including a mother of eight children and a local Catholic priest, were killed by the Parachute Regiment. The families have always disputed Army and RUC claims about the circumstances and they have campaigned for almost four decades for the truth," he said. "The families will tell him that they are seeking truth. They want an independent international investigation into the deaths of their loved ones and an apology which recognises their innocence."

(BMcC/KMcA)