Other NI News In Brief

High Flyers Take-Off

School children reached for the sky this week at the final of Bombardier's annual Flight Experience Challenge. Pictured receiving their winning certificates from Rory Galway, Manager, Equal Opportunities and Technical Training, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast, are Bangor Grammar School pupils, Josh Geary and Craig McGimpsey. The scheme is part of an extensive educational outreach, which supports the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme, with the competition providing a practical learning experience for young people. Pupils designed, built and flew a self-propelled model aircraft using recyclable, everyday objects. Aeroplanes manufactured from a wide range of materials, including balsa wood, paper clips, lollipop sticks and elastic bands, were judged on design, construction, flight and livery. Winning teams will visit the Farnborough International Airshow in July for a programme of activities, aimed at inspiring young minds to choose careers in aerospace, to include interactive demonstrations and flight simulations. There will also be opportunities to meet industry leaders, as well as graduates who have joined the sector. In addition, each winning team will receive £1,000 for their school.

Co Antrim Murder Appeal

The police have made a direct appeal to the murderer of former nurse, Pauline Haveron who was strangled at her home in Co Antrim on Sunday 18 April. The Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway said the murderer had caused "terrible suffering" to Ms Haveron's children and has appealed for the murderer to "do the right thing" and "come forward and speak to police". He made the appeal at a press conference and noted that her family will need a long time to come to terms with what happened. "They have been consumed by grief and have been struggling to come to terms with what has happened since the Sunday she was found murdered," he said, adding, "You are responsible for taking away their mother whom they loved more than anything else." DCI Galloway also appealed to the people of her hometown, Ballyclare and its surrounding areas for information.

Stabbing Probed

Detectives in south Belfast are appealing for information following an assault in the Kilburn Street area. Shortly before 10.20pm on Wednesday, 28 April, a 17-year-old male was stabbed by another male before he made off in the direction of Moltke Street. The victim was taken to hospital and is believed to have sustained a stab wound to his chest. His condition is not believed to be life threatening. The male is described as being around 17-years-old, 5ft 8in tall and of slim build with short, dark hair. Police are appealing to anyone who was in the area and witnessed the assault or has information in relation to it to contact them on 0845 600 8000. Information about crime can also be passed anonymously to the crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Defiant Builder Warned

A builder has been fined for defying an order to remove waste material from his land. Andrew Boyle from Enniskillen was fined £7,500 and warned that any further court appearances on the matter would see a new fine closer to the legal maximum of £30,000 being imposed. The case related to the unauthorised deposit of concrete, bricks and broken pavers at the site at Feddans Road, near the Lakeland town of Enniskillen. Warning letters and an enforcement notice were ignored and when the small builder's premises were inspected in December, the material hadn't been removed as ordered. In his defence, the builder's solicitor said that it was his own land and that by depositing the waste material he was seeking to increase the area of ground available to him for his business.

Agri Business Boosted

Invest Northern Ireland has helped Londonderry-based Fleming Agri Products to save over £610,000 through a programme of efficiency measures. One of the oldest agricultural machinery companies in the UK and Ireland, it produces over 140 different machines to cater for the requirements of modern farming and countryside care with assistance from Invest NI helping Fleming Agri Products to evaluate and implement necessary changes to key operational areas. Most of the savings achieved have been through making improvements to the design and production process, quality management, staff training and the transfer of communication throughout the organisation.

VQ Day Approaches

The closing date for entries for Vocational Qualifications (VQ) Day is fast approaching. It is a UK-wide celebration of the achievement of people who gain a vocational qualification every year, and highlights the many paths to success taken by learners of all ages. Northern Ireland's second VQ Day will be held on 23 June and will be marked locally by an awards ceremony. Nominations for the Learner of the Year awards must be received by Friday 14 May and Sir Reg Empey, the Employment and Learning Minister, today urged colleges, employers, training providers and awarding organisations to nominate a vocational learner to become the VQ Learner of the Year. "In the current economic climate, the importance of skills cannot be overstated," he said.

(BMcC/GK)