Other NI News In Brief

Deadly Blaze Probed

The police have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a fatal fire. They have appealed to the public for information after a man died in a blaze at a mobile home in Craigavon. It happened on the Derrymore Road area and was reported at 7.45am on Thursday. Police said they are not treating it as suspicious. The PSNI said the mobile home was "completely destroyed" in the blaze.

Cyber Crime Centre Opens

Around 80 new jobs are to be created following news that a centre that will lead the UK's fight against so-called cyber crime opened officially in Belfast. The £30m Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) is at Queen's University and will become Britain's principal centre for the development of technology to counter malicious 'cyber-attacks'.

Murphy Meets CBI

The NI Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, has addressed the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Speaking at yesterday's lunch event he said: "Clearly we are in difficult economic times and it's important that the Executive concentrates its endeavours and resources on giving people real hope that their circumstances can change for the better and that the economic climate will improve," noting that, during the last financial year spending under the Investment Strategy rose by 20% to £1.7billion. He also said that while the challenges of economic recovery are immense: "The priorities and energies of the Executive are properly focused on growth and how we position ourselves collectively going forward in achieving a sustainable prosperous future."

Co Londondery Software Excels

Baronscourt Technologies is expanding its software development operation in Derry to increase exports to key global markets including the US. Robert O'Brien, Managing Director of Baronscourt, which is based at Northland Road, has announced plans to invest £163,756 in the growth of the business over the next three years. The expansion was welcomed by Des Gartland, Manager of Invest NI's North West Regional Office which is providing assistance of £65,500 towards the costs of the expansion project. Baronscourt has developed market leading software for clients in the private and public sectors to ensure compliance with risk management requirements.

Peeper Sentenced

A Limavady man has been sentenced Nicholson to a year's probation for looking over a leisure centre cubicle where a young woman. District Judge Eamon King also ordered that he sign the sex offenders register. Paul Brendan Nicholson, 23, from Woodland Walk in Limavady, admitted last April's offence. When he was challenged he struggled with leisure centre staff, assaulting one.

Wilson May Meet Committee

The SDLP Finance Spokesperson Declan O'Loan has said the Assembly Finance Committee supports his proposal to invite Finance Minister Sammy Wilson to attend and report on the latest developments in the public finances. He said: "DUP ministers have consistently told us that there was no need to review their budget from 2008 despite economic developments. The Minister is now reported as saying that this budget is in fact no longer sustainable, with the reported funding shortage of £371m a significant under-estimation and we need to hear from the Minister what this figure is based on," he said.

Newry Road Study Welcomed

Northern Ireland Roads Minister Conor Murphy has welcomed the findings of the feasibility study into the Newry Southern Relief Road. Minister Murphy said he recognised the transport benefits that a new road link, between the A2 Warrenpoint Road dual carriageway and the A1 Belfast / Dublin Key Transport Corridor, would bring to this area. "This scheme would provide a new strategic transport link to support the economic growth of the city, improve transport links to Warrenpoint Harbour, increase road safety and contribute to a reduction in congestion within the centre of Newry," he said.

(BMcC/GK)