19/02/2014

Other News In Brief

Road Opens After Armagh Crash

The Dobbin Road in County Armagh outside Portadown has been reopened following a two-vehicle crash.

The Road was closed between Derryhale Road and Richhill for a time on Wednesday, but has since been reopened.

Dungannon Farmer Convicted Over Water Pollution

A farmer in Dungannon, County Tyrone, has been fined £7 and sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for three years for pollution offences.

Mr Colin Kelso of Gortavale Road, Rock, pleaded guilty to charges of making polluting discharges to a waterway.

He was ordered to pay court costs and £15 offenders levy and pay £3,712.88 in costs to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

On seven separate occasions between 8 November 2012 and 11 February 2013, Water Quality Inspectors inspected an unnamed tributary of the Ballinderry River at Gortavale Road, Rock, Dungannon and observed fungal growth on the bed of the waterway. The pollution to the waterway was caused by slurry and silage effluents.

The Inspectors observed extensive grey fungus in the waterway and on the surrounding vegetation. The pollution affected the unnamed tributary of the Ballinderry River for approximately 600 metres. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to a farm owned by Mr Kelso.

Woman Convicted Over £110k Benefit Fraud

A Belfast woman has been convicted of benefit fraud after claiming Housing Benefit and Income Support totalling £114,561.

37-year-old Gillian Turtle of Glenbryn Parade was given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for three years.

She is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

Taxi Driver Fined Over Licence Offences

A Belfast taxi driver has been fined a total of £700 and received six penalty points at Belfast Magistrates' Court for taxi licencing and insurance offences.

John Joseph McKeaveney of Burmah Street, Belfast, was fined £100 for having no Taxi Divers Licence, £100 for having no Public Service Vehicle Licence and £500 plus six penalty points for no insurance. He was ordered to pay £15 court costs.

(IT/MH)

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