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18/01/2011
Other NI News In Brief
Two Saved From Fires
The Fire Service has rescued two people in separate blazes overnight. A woman in her 30s was found unconscious in the upstairs bedroom of a house at Ardfoyle, Brandywell, in Londonderry with firefighters carrying her to safety after extinguishing a blaze in the living room. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. In seaside Whitehead, a man was saved from a fire at Adelaide Avenue, which broke out at 1am on Tuesday. He was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.
Bomber Jailed
A Dundalk man who admitted conspiracy to cause an explosion outside an NI police station has been jailed by a Dublin court. David Murphy, 30, from Ashling Park in Dundalk, admitted being present when a stolen car left outside Crossmaglen police station on 3 April 2010 was fitted with a bomb. Murphy also admitted phoning the Samaritans with a bomb warning. Jailing Murphy for 11 years on Tuesday, the judge said his guilty plea had resulted in a reduced sentence.
PSNI Well-Being In Focus
Members of the NI Policing Board's Human Resources Committee recently received an update from the PSNI's Chief Medical Adviser on the progress that has been made to date in implementing its Well-being Programme. Speaking after the meeting Jimmy Spratt MLA, Chair of the Human Resources Committee said: "A well developed strategy is in place and it is clear that it is a big priority within the organisation. This has included the Orange National Business Award for Health, Work and Well-being, the PSNI being one of some 100 organisations considered for the award including, Marks & Spencer's, the Metropolitan Police and Northern Bank. These accolades reflect the excellent work that has been done in this area by the PSNI and they are to be congratulated," he said, noting that absence due to sickness among police officers is now down to 7.79 average days per year, while police staff absences stand at 9.4, which compares favourably with other public sector organisations in Northern Ireland.
Orange Hall Attacks Condemned
The Sinn Fein MP for Mid-Ulster Martin McGuinness has said that those who carried out attacks on four Orange Halls in Co Tyrone in recent days "were motivated solely by sectarian hatred". The Stormont Deputy First Minister said: "Numerous attacks on churches, Orange Halls and GAA clubs have been rightly condemned by all political parties. Over the weekend four Orange Halls in Tyrone were attacked. These attacks are wrong and they are unacceptable. Those responsible are motivated solely be sectarian hatred and by a desire to see community tensions increased," he said, noting "engaging in dialogue with each other and promoting a united front against these hate crimes" offers a solution.
Circus! Circus!
North Down Alliance Councillor Andrew Muir has welcomed news that more of NI's Education and Library Boards across will no longer welcome circuses involving animals. Cllr Muir has been leading a move for change for the last few months. "I am glad that the loophole allowing circuses involving animals to easily establish circuses at sites across NI has now hopefully been closed," he said. "Evidence from the Alliance for Animal Rights details 'Animals in circuses live a life of restriction, cages, chains and constant transportation' and with circus animals sometimes forced to perform confusing, uncomfortable, repetitious and often-painful acts I am glad that my actions will make it more difficult for circuses involving animals to establish at many sites across Northern Ireland. I will continue to campaign and lead change to see a Northern Ireland wide ban on circuses involving animals. Animal welfare must be higher up the political agenda," he said.
Presbyterians On Agenda
Stormont First Minister, Peter Robinson and a group of party colleagues including the DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds MP, Nelson McCausland and William Humphrey have held a meeting with senior Presbyterian church leaders. The DUP delegation met with Rev Norman Hamilton, Moderator of the General Assembly, Rev Donald Watts, Clerk of the Assembly and Dr Lesley Carol, Convenor of the Presbyterian Church and Society Committee. Issues discussed included social deprivation and tackling sectarianism in Northern Ireland. Peter Robinson said: "I have seen for myself, in inner east Belfast, the valuable work of the Presbyterian Church, through the Westbourne congregation, in helping communities to move forward and increase in confidence and capacity. I am keen to encourage similar enterprises throughout Northern Ireland. We shared many interesting ideas and I look forward to further such meetings with other faith groups in the future," said the DUP Leader.
Hospital Car Parks Boosts Builder
The main contractor has been appointed for work involved in the construction of car parking alterations at Causeway Hospital and Antrim Area Hospital, Antrim. The contractor is FP McCann Ltd, of Magherafelt, Co Londonderry who will work on the Paid Car Parking Schemes & Alterations scheme while a civil engineering contractor to undertake a range of works and duties associated with the alterations to the existing Staff Car Park at Causeway Hospital and the Public Car Park at Antrim Area Hospital is now also being sought. Main construction work is expected to commence on site during mid-January, 2011 and the contract period is estimated at four months and will cost in the region of £900,000.
(BMcC/KMcA)
The Fire Service has rescued two people in separate blazes overnight. A woman in her 30s was found unconscious in the upstairs bedroom of a house at Ardfoyle, Brandywell, in Londonderry with firefighters carrying her to safety after extinguishing a blaze in the living room. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. In seaside Whitehead, a man was saved from a fire at Adelaide Avenue, which broke out at 1am on Tuesday. He was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.
Bomber Jailed
A Dundalk man who admitted conspiracy to cause an explosion outside an NI police station has been jailed by a Dublin court. David Murphy, 30, from Ashling Park in Dundalk, admitted being present when a stolen car left outside Crossmaglen police station on 3 April 2010 was fitted with a bomb. Murphy also admitted phoning the Samaritans with a bomb warning. Jailing Murphy for 11 years on Tuesday, the judge said his guilty plea had resulted in a reduced sentence.
PSNI Well-Being In Focus
Members of the NI Policing Board's Human Resources Committee recently received an update from the PSNI's Chief Medical Adviser on the progress that has been made to date in implementing its Well-being Programme. Speaking after the meeting Jimmy Spratt MLA, Chair of the Human Resources Committee said: "A well developed strategy is in place and it is clear that it is a big priority within the organisation. This has included the Orange National Business Award for Health, Work and Well-being, the PSNI being one of some 100 organisations considered for the award including, Marks & Spencer's, the Metropolitan Police and Northern Bank. These accolades reflect the excellent work that has been done in this area by the PSNI and they are to be congratulated," he said, noting that absence due to sickness among police officers is now down to 7.79 average days per year, while police staff absences stand at 9.4, which compares favourably with other public sector organisations in Northern Ireland.
Orange Hall Attacks Condemned
The Sinn Fein MP for Mid-Ulster Martin McGuinness has said that those who carried out attacks on four Orange Halls in Co Tyrone in recent days "were motivated solely by sectarian hatred". The Stormont Deputy First Minister said: "Numerous attacks on churches, Orange Halls and GAA clubs have been rightly condemned by all political parties. Over the weekend four Orange Halls in Tyrone were attacked. These attacks are wrong and they are unacceptable. Those responsible are motivated solely be sectarian hatred and by a desire to see community tensions increased," he said, noting "engaging in dialogue with each other and promoting a united front against these hate crimes" offers a solution.
Circus! Circus!
North Down Alliance Councillor Andrew Muir has welcomed news that more of NI's Education and Library Boards across will no longer welcome circuses involving animals. Cllr Muir has been leading a move for change for the last few months. "I am glad that the loophole allowing circuses involving animals to easily establish circuses at sites across NI has now hopefully been closed," he said. "Evidence from the Alliance for Animal Rights details 'Animals in circuses live a life of restriction, cages, chains and constant transportation' and with circus animals sometimes forced to perform confusing, uncomfortable, repetitious and often-painful acts I am glad that my actions will make it more difficult for circuses involving animals to establish at many sites across Northern Ireland. I will continue to campaign and lead change to see a Northern Ireland wide ban on circuses involving animals. Animal welfare must be higher up the political agenda," he said.
Presbyterians On Agenda
Stormont First Minister, Peter Robinson and a group of party colleagues including the DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds MP, Nelson McCausland and William Humphrey have held a meeting with senior Presbyterian church leaders. The DUP delegation met with Rev Norman Hamilton, Moderator of the General Assembly, Rev Donald Watts, Clerk of the Assembly and Dr Lesley Carol, Convenor of the Presbyterian Church and Society Committee. Issues discussed included social deprivation and tackling sectarianism in Northern Ireland. Peter Robinson said: "I have seen for myself, in inner east Belfast, the valuable work of the Presbyterian Church, through the Westbourne congregation, in helping communities to move forward and increase in confidence and capacity. I am keen to encourage similar enterprises throughout Northern Ireland. We shared many interesting ideas and I look forward to further such meetings with other faith groups in the future," said the DUP Leader.
Hospital Car Parks Boosts Builder
The main contractor has been appointed for work involved in the construction of car parking alterations at Causeway Hospital and Antrim Area Hospital, Antrim. The contractor is FP McCann Ltd, of Magherafelt, Co Londonderry who will work on the Paid Car Parking Schemes & Alterations scheme while a civil engineering contractor to undertake a range of works and duties associated with the alterations to the existing Staff Car Park at Causeway Hospital and the Public Car Park at Antrim Area Hospital is now also being sought. Main construction work is expected to commence on site during mid-January, 2011 and the contract period is estimated at four months and will cost in the region of £900,000.
(BMcC/KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
