Crash Tragedy

Twenty-five people have now died on NI's roads this year after the latest casualty was named as Alan Nesbitt, 55, who lost his life alongside his beloved pet dog in a crash on the Dunadry Road, near Templepatrick on Saturday morning. His car was involved in a collision with two other vehicles and his terrier-type pet, which was in the Peugeot 106 with him, also died as a result of the accident. Three other people were taken to hospital. However, they were all later released.

Van Driver Pelted

Police are appealing for information following an incident on west Belfast's Springfield Road that left a 36-year-old man receiving hospital treatment after being hit in the face with a rock. The driver was injured after a lump of concrete was thrown through the front windscreen of the work van at around 9pm on Saturday.

Blaze Rescue

An elderly man had a lucky escape at the weekend after a fire broke out in a bedroom at a care home in east Belfast. He has been taken to hospital after the blaze started in a ground floor room at Victoria Park Care Home, Connsbrook Avenue, on Sunday at about 9pm. Staff led the man to safety and he was taken to hospital where he was treated for the effects of smoke inhalation. East Belfast Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has praised the bravery of staff: "This must have been a very frightening experience for the man and I hope he recovers quickly from this. I want to praise the courage shown by these staff who helped the man to safety. Their swift and brave actions must be commended."

Kids Matter

The SDLP Education Spokesperson Conall McDevitt MLA has said the quality of children's education here must not be undermined because of teachers' redundancies. His call comes following warnings from the teachers' union about pressures on the education system because of redundancies at schools across NI: "It is essential that children's interests remain at the heart of the education system. We must take no decisions that will adversely affect pupils' quality of education or the ability of children with special needs to receive the extra support they are entitled to," he said.

Orange Attack

An incident of criminal damage is being investigated by the PSNI after vandals attacked the Orange Hall in Dunloy, Co Antrim. Graffiti was sprayed on the walls of the building on the Station Road, on Friday night. Ballymoney DUP councillor John Finlay said it was a disgraceful attack. Such attacks have become a regular occurrence in the County Antrim village, which stands in a largely dominated Republican area," he added.

Kinahan 'Promoted'

The South Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kinahan has spoken of his excitement at being appointed as Assembly Private Secretary to the Ulster Unionist Party's (UUP) Stormont Minister, Danny Kennedy and how he relishes the challenge of helping the Minister, his party colleagues and other members of the Assembly with the work of the Regional Development Department. "I am looking forward to getting involved and helping to organise and support the UUP's Ministerial approach," he said.

Wee Twelfth

Orangemen were out in large numbers at mini-Twelfth parades in Carrickfergus and Portadown on Saturday. The 321st anniversary of the landing in Carrickfergus of King William, the Prince of Orange, with his army was commemorated with a colourful parade and re-enactment and was the highlight of the three-day Orange pageant. In Portadown on Saturday night, the annual mini-Twelfth parade involved more than 500 Orangemen from 30 lodges and 10 bands and several sets of Lambeg drummers.

(BMcC/GK)