Royal Visitor For Balmoral Show

A royal visitor switched one Balmoral with another this afternoon as the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward was welcomed to the 140th Royal Ulster Agricultural Show at Balmoral in Belfast by NI First Minister Dr Ian Paisley. Speaking following a lunch hosted by the RUAS President, Dr Paisley said: "I am pleased that the Earl of Wessex has been able to take some time out of his busy schedule to visit the show today to see first hand the role that the agricultural industry plays in Northern Ireland."

Recruit Cop In Court

A now former police trainee has been charged with theft and falsifying car tax documents. The case against Limavady man Niall McGregor was heard yesterday at Londonderry Magistrates Court when he was charged with stealing £11,000 from the DVNLI and falsifying records. Defence said his client's PSNI contract was terminated after he was charged.

Events Co Slammed

The NI Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has said there must be more control over semi government 'quangos' such as that set up to bring high profile events to Northern Ireland. The organisation, the Northern Ireland Events Company - which has overspent by £1.2m - has now been accused of acting in a "cavalier fashion" with public money. John O'Dowd, who chaired the PAC before being moved to the education committee, said lessons must be learnt about the way the company - which brought big-name musical acts like the Eagles and Rod Stewart to Stormont - acted, even though it has now been wound up.

Rangers Parade Off

While some 'fans' may have brought disgrace on their team in Manchester during last night's 'big screen failure' riots, news that Rangers has "decided it is wholly inappropriate to take part in a public procession through Glasgow" in the light of the death of Celtic legend, Tommy Burns this morning, will go some way to restoring their standing. A statement said that the returning team will travel directly from Glasgow Airport to Ibrox stadium to acknowledge its supporters in a less public manner instead.

McCartney Trial To Resume

After an initial short delay, it has now emerged that the postponed trial of the man accused of murdering Short Strand man Robert McCartney has been reset for next week. The Courts Service announced that the case against Terence Malachy Davison, 51, on a charge of killing the father-of-two outside a Belfast bar more than three years ago will now appear at the Crown Court on Monday. The revised start date has been set following two aborted attempts to commence proceedings earlier this week. Along with two other men - James McCormick, 39, and Joseph Gerard Emmanuel Fitzpatrick, 47 - Davison is also due to face charges of affray in relation to the same incident in January 2005. Sinn Fein denies any IRA members had taken part in the murder, although the family and others insist members of the terror organisation carried it out.

(BMcC)