Royal Visitors Welcomed To Palace

There's a royal visit underway in NI today as the Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall dropped into the 'Palace'. They are in Co Down to see the soldiers and families of The 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment at their base in a different Palace to the one in London - Palace Barracks, near Belfast. Prince Charles and Camilla were first greeted at George Best Belfast City Airport by Dame Mary Peters, the Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast, and Hugo Swire, a Minister of State for Northern Ireland. The Army call is the first of a number of engagements with Price Charles being Colonel in Chief of the 'The Mercians' with this being the second visit by HRH to their base in Holywood.

Former Solicitor Back In Jail

A convicted VAT fraudster from Staffordshire who has failed to fully pay a £410,000 confiscation order was sent back to prison to serve a further two years and three months today. Paul Morris, a former solicitor, was jailed in March 2003 for his part in a plot to launder £8m of criminal profits from a £38m ‘missing trader’ VAT fraud. The investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that led to the conviction also saw fraudster Ray Woolley jailed. Richard Meadows, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation, for HMRC, said: “The fact that Morris has been recalled to prison for failing to fully repay criminal profits highlights the seriousness of this form of criminality. We all pay extra tax to compensate for the money these criminals steal and with the economic challenges being faced by everyone we will vigorously pursue their ill-gotten gains, stolen from the UK taxpayer. Today’s sentencing sends the strongest message yet of our relentless action to seek justice.” Morris was previously found guilty of laundering millions through his firm’s clients’ account on behalf of Ray Woolley and co-defendant Duncan Evans. This money was used to purchase overseas properties, luxury cars, yachts and shares. He was later given a life time ban from practising law. He was ordered to repay criminal profits of £410,000 in April 2004 or service a further three years in prison, as well as still owing the money. Morris has only repaid £265,000. With interest, the remaining amount outstanding is £272,796. The debt is still owed and financial investigations continue to identify assets.

Serious Assaults Reported In Muswell Hill

Detectives are appealing for information following three serious assaults in the Muswell Hill area. On Wednesday, 5 January, a 67-year-old man was found unconscious near the gates of Alexandra Park in north London, by a member of the public who alerted police. The victim had sustained serious head injuries and remains in a critical condition in an east London hospital. Next of kin have been informed. It is not currently known how long the man had been lying on the floor prior to being found. On Friday, 28 January, a 63-year-old man was attacked in Queens Wood, near Wood Vale in north London. The victim suffered minor injuries and did not need hospital treatment. On Monday, 31 January, police were called by London Ambulance Service after a member of the public found an 84-year-old man with serious head injuries in Queens Wood, near Wood Vale in north London. The man remains in a critical but stable condition in a north London hospital. Next of kin have been informed. Detective Chief Inspector Tim Duffield, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, who is leading the investigation said: "One aspect of our investigation is focused on establishing how the two seriously hurt men sustained their injuries. We are eager to speak to anyone who has information about these incidents, particularly those who may have been in or near the parks on the days in question. Someone may have seen or heard something that could prove vital to the investigation. I would urge them to come forward with any information they may have, however insignificant they feel it is.”

Food Firm Fined After Worker Is Hospitalised

A Lincolnshire food company which packs vegetables for supermarkets has been fined £15,000 after a worker ended up in hospital when hit by a falling crate. QV Foods Ltd, of Manor Farm, Holbeach Hurn, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at its factory in May 2009. Kings Lynn Magistrates’ Court heard that a 43 year-old employee from Holbeach, who has asked not to be named, was labelling boxes in the factory yard when she was hit by a wooden crate of potatoes which fell from a forklift truck as it was being emptied into a skip.

She fractured her right knee and suffered severe bruising to her back. She was hospitalised and was unable to work for several months but has since returned to the factory. QV Foods Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act for failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of its employees. It was today fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,606.

(BMcN/GK)