Train Tape Shock

A young woman who found a tape cassette while travelling on a local train has found it was a recording of an interview with the PSNI and a convicted sex offender. She was travelling from Belfast Great Victoria Street to Central Station on Wednesday when she found the tape on a seat. The 23-year-old civil servant said she was horrified when she discovered it was a recording of an interview between a registered sex offender and a police officer, dated April 22, 2008. However, the PSNI have since insisted this was not missing data and that they had no control over tapes given to individuals.

Extra Bread For Bakery In Multiple Deal

A family-owned Co Down bakery has agreed a lucrative partnership with national multiple Sainsbury's to supply cake and bun lines to the retailer's 10 stores in Northern Ireland. Graham’s Bakery, which employs 44 staff at its Dromore base, has signed up Sainsbury's stores in a deal worth an estimated £200,000 a year. Graham's Sales and Marketing Manager Alistair Toal said: "We are always keen to develop and grow our business and securing this new partnership with Sainsbury's is both an endorsement of our product and also the hard work of the staff at the bakery."

President's House Burnt

A fire has destroyed the roof of a building of historic significance in County Tyrone. The thatched cottage, on the Spout Road in Strabane was originally owned by the family of former American President Woodrow Wilson. Yesterday, three fire crews from Strabane and Newtownstewart attended the scene and set about helping to save the historical items from the building. A spokesman for the Fire Service said they prevented the fire from spreading to other buildings on the site of the visitor attraction.

Look Out! Here Comes The Vikings!

Back by popular demand - after around 1,000 years - the horned helmets of the barbarian Viking Norsemen will soon be raiding Antrim Lough Shore Park again. On Saturday 14 June from 2-5 pm the Annual Viking Challenge will be taking place. This popular event will see teams from local businesses row Viking longboats along the Six Mile Water River against the clock in a knockout race to win the title of Viking Champions. And, just to prove these Vikings aren't hard-hearted warriors like our Norse ancestors, they are all racing to support a very worthwhile charity, Action MS. As well as the river race, spectators can enjoy a display of Viking battle tactics or take a tour round a typical Viking Village, dispelling the myth that they were only interested in fighting, and showing that they were also farmers, traders and settlers. A DJ will keep the crowds entertained and there will be craft stalls, boat trips around Lough Neagh, a display from World of Owls and lots of children's activities. The event is also a great opportunity to keep children active with the Rock Climbing Tower, Puzzlezone and archery lessons.

Devolution Birthday Ignored?

Yesterday's first anniversary of the restoration of power-sharing at Stormont passed without fanfare or ceremony with no one 'at home' to notice as all the afternoon's scheduled sessions of the Executive was called off. Instead the MLAs were glad-handing the VIPs at the main session of the high profile United States/NI Economic Investment Conference, with most of the Executive Ministers due to take part in the proceedings at some point.

"The focus is on the conference so it was decided to postpone the Executive meeting," a spokesman said.

Cop Paid For Seven Years Off Work

A police officer has been suspended on full pay for more than seven years. According to a report from the BBC, the PSNI officer is just one of 35 currently suspended at a cost to taxpayers of hundreds of thousands of pounds. Yet another officer has been suspended for four years, another one for three years, five officers for two years and some seven officers for longer than one year. It is reported that the salaries for the 15 officers amounts to £600,000 or a wage bill for 28 years. The figure does not include wages paid to a further 20 officers suspended for less than 12 months. However, the Police Service Northern Ireland said the cases should be put in context against the overall 9,000 officers representing the total membership of the PSNI.

(BMcC)