Menu
02/11/2016
Other News In Brief
Call For Charter NI Funding To Be Suspended
SDLP Communities Spokesperson and North Belfast MLA Nichola Mallon has called on the First and deputy First Minister to suspend funding to Charter NI until a full review is conducted into how the organisation is governed and organised.
She said: "The SDLP is calling for the immediate suspension of public funding to Charter NI until a full and independent review is conducted into how the organisation is governed and organised.
"Not only is the conduct of the Chief Executive unacceptable, but the response of the organisation to his conduct is equally unacceptable.
"The Chief Executive should be gone, funding should be suspended and an independent review of its governance conducted before a single penny of public funds is granted to Charter NI.
"The continued wall of silence and lack of action from the First and deputy First Ministers in response to CEO Dee Stitt's conduct, given the fact that they have just awarded his organisation £1.7m in public money, is totally unacceptable.
"If funding is not suspended, the First and deputy First Ministers are sending a clear message that the comments of this organisation’s CEO and the inaction of its board in response is good enough. This is a dereliction of political responsibility. If Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness don't act decisively it sends the message that Charter NI can do what they want."
Clanmil Housing Scoops First Prize At Prestigious Awards
A housing association in Northern Ireland has won the Prove It: Social Impact category at an awards ceremony organised by Social Enterprise NI.
Clanmil Housing scooped first prize at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast after it was commended for the the positive impact of its work in developing communities and promoting financial inclusion and employability for people who live in the homes it provides.
Tim O'Malley, Community Development Manager at Clanmil, said: "As well as great homes, we want our tenants to reach their full potential. Over the past two years we have been working with our tenants and a range of partners to develop and deliver community development programmes that really work.
"Promoting employability has great potential for the communities in which we work and we have established a partnership with Women'sTEC to deliver a 5-year, £850k European Social Fund employability programme.
"In its first year 52 tenants have completed training programmes and five have progressed into employment. In addition, through our new homes development programme we have leveraged 25 apprenticeships and 39 work placements, and achieved a commitment from our contractors to substantial investment in community event sponsorship, community labour days and welcome packs for new tenants.
"We have also invested in a Money Advice Service, which achieved a total financial benefit for tenants of almost £500,000 in 2015/16."
Vital Evidence Will Not Be Heard Following IRA Gunruner's Death - UUP
Ulster Unionist MLA Ross Hussey has said it is a matter of real regret that the death of former IRA gunrunner Mike Logan, means his evidence as to who he sent hundreds of weapons to, will not now be heard in court.
Mr Hussey said: "Mike Logan claimed to have shipped over 200 handguns and other weapons to the Provisional IRA from America over a five-year period, which began after the IRA ceasefire and continued even after the Belfast Agreement.
"Having been a regular visitor to Northern Ireland since the early 1980s, he knew exactly what he was doing and what the deadly consequences of his actions would be. Indeed, weapons he supplied are believed to have been used in the murder of two Police officers in Lurgan in 1997.
"It is a matter of real regret that having agreed to give evidence, Mike Logan will now not be able to appear in court and identify his accomplices and in particular, the people to whom he sent weapons from the USA."
(CD)
SDLP Communities Spokesperson and North Belfast MLA Nichola Mallon has called on the First and deputy First Minister to suspend funding to Charter NI until a full review is conducted into how the organisation is governed and organised.
She said: "The SDLP is calling for the immediate suspension of public funding to Charter NI until a full and independent review is conducted into how the organisation is governed and organised.
"Not only is the conduct of the Chief Executive unacceptable, but the response of the organisation to his conduct is equally unacceptable.
"The Chief Executive should be gone, funding should be suspended and an independent review of its governance conducted before a single penny of public funds is granted to Charter NI.
"The continued wall of silence and lack of action from the First and deputy First Ministers in response to CEO Dee Stitt's conduct, given the fact that they have just awarded his organisation £1.7m in public money, is totally unacceptable.
"If funding is not suspended, the First and deputy First Ministers are sending a clear message that the comments of this organisation’s CEO and the inaction of its board in response is good enough. This is a dereliction of political responsibility. If Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness don't act decisively it sends the message that Charter NI can do what they want."
Clanmil Housing Scoops First Prize At Prestigious Awards
A housing association in Northern Ireland has won the Prove It: Social Impact category at an awards ceremony organised by Social Enterprise NI.
Clanmil Housing scooped first prize at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast after it was commended for the the positive impact of its work in developing communities and promoting financial inclusion and employability for people who live in the homes it provides.
Tim O'Malley, Community Development Manager at Clanmil, said: "As well as great homes, we want our tenants to reach their full potential. Over the past two years we have been working with our tenants and a range of partners to develop and deliver community development programmes that really work.
"Promoting employability has great potential for the communities in which we work and we have established a partnership with Women'sTEC to deliver a 5-year, £850k European Social Fund employability programme.
"In its first year 52 tenants have completed training programmes and five have progressed into employment. In addition, through our new homes development programme we have leveraged 25 apprenticeships and 39 work placements, and achieved a commitment from our contractors to substantial investment in community event sponsorship, community labour days and welcome packs for new tenants.
"We have also invested in a Money Advice Service, which achieved a total financial benefit for tenants of almost £500,000 in 2015/16."
Vital Evidence Will Not Be Heard Following IRA Gunruner's Death - UUP
Ulster Unionist MLA Ross Hussey has said it is a matter of real regret that the death of former IRA gunrunner Mike Logan, means his evidence as to who he sent hundreds of weapons to, will not now be heard in court.
Mr Hussey said: "Mike Logan claimed to have shipped over 200 handguns and other weapons to the Provisional IRA from America over a five-year period, which began after the IRA ceasefire and continued even after the Belfast Agreement.
"Having been a regular visitor to Northern Ireland since the early 1980s, he knew exactly what he was doing and what the deadly consequences of his actions would be. Indeed, weapons he supplied are believed to have been used in the murder of two Police officers in Lurgan in 1997.
"It is a matter of real regret that having agreed to give evidence, Mike Logan will now not be able to appear in court and identify his accomplices and in particular, the people to whom he sent weapons from the USA."
(CD)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
10 October 2017
Two Men Released Over Threats To Catholic Families
Two men have been released from police custody after they were arrested under the Terroism Act. The men, aged 37 and 40, were detained on suspicion of being members of a banned organisation, namely the UVF.
Two Men Released Over Threats To Catholic Families
Two men have been released from police custody after they were arrested under the Terroism Act. The men, aged 37 and 40, were detained on suspicion of being members of a banned organisation, namely the UVF.
09 July 2010
Border 'Shame' Over Child Sex Traffic
Child victims of sexual exploitation are being traded back and forth across the land border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. According to a new report, international criminal gangs are increasingly using Northern Ireland as a gateway for trafficking children into Britain.
Border 'Shame' Over Child Sex Traffic
Child victims of sexual exploitation are being traded back and forth across the land border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. According to a new report, international criminal gangs are increasingly using Northern Ireland as a gateway for trafficking children into Britain.
01 August 2006
Man released after weapons find
A man who was arrested in connection with with the discovery of a quantity of ammunition at the weekend, has been released without charge, a PSNI spokesperson has today confirmed. The arrest was made on Friday evening after a number of proactive police searches in the area when a shotgun, ammunition and a number of petrol bombs were recovered.
Man released after weapons find
A man who was arrested in connection with with the discovery of a quantity of ammunition at the weekend, has been released without charge, a PSNI spokesperson has today confirmed. The arrest was made on Friday evening after a number of proactive police searches in the area when a shotgun, ammunition and a number of petrol bombs were recovered.
31 July 2006
Man arrested after weapons find
Police in north Belfast have arrested a man in connection with the discovery of a quantity of ammunition at the weekend. The arrest was made on Friday evening after a number of proactive police searches in the area. A shotgun, ammunition and a number of petrol bombs were recovered, and the man is currently assisting police with their inquiries.
Man arrested after weapons find
Police in north Belfast have arrested a man in connection with the discovery of a quantity of ammunition at the weekend. The arrest was made on Friday evening after a number of proactive police searches in the area. A shotgun, ammunition and a number of petrol bombs were recovered, and the man is currently assisting police with their inquiries.
23 October 2002
Man charged over loyalist weapons find
Police have charged a 38-year-old man in connection with the an arms and ammunition find in Newtownabbey yesterday. The man was arrested after police uncovered a quantity of long and short arms, pipe bombs, a booby-trap device and a substantial amount of ammunition in the roof space of a building in the loyalist Rathcoole estate.
Man charged over loyalist weapons find
Police have charged a 38-year-old man in connection with the an arms and ammunition find in Newtownabbey yesterday. The man was arrested after police uncovered a quantity of long and short arms, pipe bombs, a booby-trap device and a substantial amount of ammunition in the roof space of a building in the loyalist Rathcoole estate.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
