Other NI News In Brief

Booze Battled

Hundreds of young people across NI were treated for alcohol abuse and almost a tenth of children are regular smokers, the Chief Medical Officer has revealed. Dr Michael McBride's annual report also showed that last year the average age at which pupils in Northern Ireland were first offered drugs was 13. Commenting he said: "We all have a responsibility to ensure that young people know the facts about alcohol, about the real harm it does, about how getting drunk can lead to all sorts of unwanted consequences - and not just the hangover." The figures from 2006/07 reveal that 8,313 people were admitted to acute hospitals with alcohol-related problems and around 200 were aged under 18. See: Worrying' Drugs Figures Prompt Protest

Murder Probe Follows Death

A man who was the victim of a serious assault in Co Tyrone 10 days ago has died. Leslie Parkes, from Knockmoyle in Cookstown, died in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital on Monday. Police are now treating his death as murder. Detectives have renewed their appeal for witnesses to the incident in Cookstown's Molesworth Street at about 2am on 19 September. A 20-year-old man appeared in court last week charged with assault.

Death Charges For Council

An NI council is facing five counts of breaching health and safety rules after the death of one of its workers at a landfill site. Digger driver Ronnie Marshall was seriously injured at Drummee site in Enniskillen on 8 April last year when the ground gave way and his digger fell into a gully. He died 10 days later in hospital. The case against Fermanagh District Council is is scheduled to be heard at the Crown Court in Dungannon next month.

Beefing About Beef

A regional beef event is in the planning for next Spring. The National Beef Association's Northern Ireland Council is to stage NI Beef Expo 2010 on Tuesday March 2nd next year. It will be held at Dungannon Farmers' Mart, Dungannon, Co Tyrone – a site described as an ideal location. Further information is available from Oisin Murnion, Tel: 07739 632048.

999 Alert For Derry

SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has written to both the Health Minister and the Chief Executive of the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) to urgently arrange a meeting to discuss proposed cuts to ambulance hours in the area. "The Western Health and Social Care Trust plans to reduce ambulance crew hours from 27,124 hours per year to 22,135 hours per year, a reduction of 3,989 hours per year. This reduction will mean the planned removal of some ambulances during the day and at night. I understand that the Western Trust intends to make greater use of emergency response vehicles and minibuses. However, people are concerned that the proposed cuts in full ambulance services will increase risk to the public," he said yesterday.

Designing Success

Teams involved in the development of three local health and social care buildings have been congratulated by the Health Minister following their success at the Design & Health International Academy Awards in Singapore. Knockbreda Health & Care Centre, Belfast and Altnagelvin Area Hospital (South Wing) Londonderry won awards in the International Health Care project category and the Bluestone Unit in Craigavon was awarded in the Mental Health project category. Speaking at Knockbreda Health and Care Centre at a presentation to honour their achievements, Michael McGimpsey said: "To have three Northern Ireland health sector buildings receive awards in such a prestigious, global event is a fact I am proud and honoured to acknowledge."

Printers Get Skills Update

The Print Factory in Enniskillen is implementing a £40,000 project to further increase the skills of its employees and help the company target high-value export sales, with support from Invest Northern Ireland. The Print Factory offers a variety of design and print services for clients in a range of markets including the UK, Republic of Ireland and the USA. Its products include bespoke wedding stationery, memorial cards, posters, brochures, menus and magazines. Invest NI is backing the initiative by offering over £11,000 of funding, part financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

(BMcC/KMcA)