Smoke & Mirrors

The two-girl band, Smoke Fairies - Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies are being billed as 'folk-rock fairy princesses' who have just released an acclaimed album, Through Low Light and Trees. In advance of their Belfast Open House Festival debut, the album has been described as "heartfelt and sensual… poised and elegant" offering an "exquisite blend of alternative folk rock and bluesy, blousy Americana has won admirers from many quarters". Backed by Skip Moses, a Belfast-based new-folk collective fronted by the irrepressible Jonny Black, whose musical influence sweeps from Southern Appalachia USA to east Belfast, the girls are on stage at the Oh Yeah Music Centre on 25th June at 2pm. See: Open House

Lenihan Dies

The Irish Republic's former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has died from cancer. He was a member of parliament for the (now) opposition Fianna Fail party. See: Tributes Paid To Late Brian Lenihan

PSNI Feel Strain Of Pay-offs

The PSNI has launched a campaign to attract 40 experienced officers from other UK and Irish forces in a move that is a response to the retirement of large numbers of senior RUC officers who left under the [political] Patten redundancy scheme. Despite the recruitment of new trainee officers being frozen, the RUC's replacement, the PSNI is now seeking to encourage inter-force transfers to make up the gap left behind by the enforced pay-offs.

Iris Probe Re-opened

The Assembly's Standards and Privileges Committee is to renew a probe into a former DUP politician. While Stormont First Minister, Peter Robinson denied any wrongdoing after a BBC NI programme revealed details of his wife Iris's financial and business affairs, the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch, which specialises in financial investigations, launched an investigation in January 2010. Now, after the Public Prosecution Service said the former DUP MP would not face charges over her role in helping her ex-lover Kirk McCambley, set up a business, Stormont's Interim Commissioner will conclude his suspended investigation into the issues arising from the BBC Spotlight programme.

Benefit Frauds 'Jailed'

A woman has been given a jail sentnce after she was convicted at Dungannon Crown Court for claiming benefits she was not entitled to. Maria Burns, 46, of Davon Park, Dungannon was given 14 months imprisonment suspended for two years for failing to declare employment and exaggerating disability while claiming Income Support and Disability Living Allowance totalling £79,966. She is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained. Meanwhile, at Londonderry Magistrates Court, Garret McColgan, 28, of Glasgow Street, Londonderry was given three months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to pay court costs of £73 for failing to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Carers Allowance totalling £15,676. He is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

Blood Matters

Early summer is proving to be a difficult period for NI's Blood Transfusion Service to maintain the vital supply of blood to hospitals. The Service has therefore organised a Special Donor Week 13th to 17th June to launch this year’s appeal for new donors; the theme is, 'Get the Feel Good Factor: Give Blood - Save Lives'. During the week blood donation sessions will be held in towns right across the province and it is hoped many new donors will give blood and save lives, and get the Feel Good Factor too. Visit: www.nibts.org

UTV Man Makes News

UTV's top news hound Rob Morrison has received the Chartered Institute of Pubic Relations (CIPR) Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his contribution to broadcasting over the past 40 years. The judges said: "Rob was given the lifetime achievement award for his commitment to the industry. His work with UTV Live has made the programme the most watched local news in the UK, he has overseen a number of award-winning current affairs programmes and worked on almost every breaking news story for the last 40 years."

Flooded With Praise

The Alliance East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle has welcomed a £1.2m flood alleviation scheme on the area's Montgomery Street. The scheme will improve the sewer infrastructure in the area to reduce flooding. "Flooding has been a major concern for many residents in the area. We have seen numerous cases of sewers overflowing after heavy rainfall that caused large amounts of damage. This announcement will be a welcome relief to local residents but we need to see more schemes put in place to improve our sewerage infrastructure that in many circumstances are not up to standard," he said.

Poots Backs Daisy Hill

NI Health Minister Edwin Poots has this week praised the standard of care provided to patients at Daisy Hill Hospital. Mr Poots yesterday met with senior staff of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust when he visited the hospital in Newry. The Minister toured the refurbished Accident and Emergency facility and the upgraded maternity unit at the hospital as well as the hospital's new recently installed CT scanner, worth £600,000. "I am very impressed by the enhanced facilities at Daisy Hill hospital and the Southern Trust's commitment to providing the people of the Newry and Mourne area and further afield, with the very best of care in a modern state-of-the-art setting," he said.

(BMcC/GK)