Other NI News In Brief

Quinn Chief Quits

The boss of beleagured Quinn Insurance, Colin Morgan, has "decided to leave the company" after it was placed into administration in March when Ireland's financial regulator raised concerns about its solvency. The company's Chief Executive Officer has been with the firm for seven years, and said yesterday he was sure it would "recover from current difficulties", but that "it is an opportune time for me to pursue other opportunities in my career". Founder, Sean Quinn has already stood down from the board of the troubled Quinn Group. See: Quinn Steps Back As Stormont Steps In

Road Tragedy

There was a fatal road accident yesterday in Co Antrim. The crash was in the village of Doagh and the man's vehicle was the only one involved in the accident that happened on the Ballymena Road at about 10.30am Wednesday. Police are appealing for anyone who has any information about the accident to get in contact with them.

Litter Fines Imposed

Three people have been fined for littering at Belfast Magistrates Court. Lorraine Fawcett, from Kilburn Street in west Belfast, was fined £70 and ordered to pay costs of £66 for dumping household waste in her street, Talot Manzoor, from Windsor Manor in south Belfast, was fined £75 and ordered to pay costs of £66 for dropping litter at Chichester Street in the city centre and Kathleen Fleming, from Strabane Old Road in Londonderry, was fined £75 and ordered to pay costs of £66 for failing to reply to a notice to obtain information in relation to an investigation into a littering offence on June 15, 2009. The prosecutions were brought by Belfast City Council.

Peace Line Targeted

An innovative new project which will address difference and division and promote reconciliation at interface areas was launched this week at Parliament Buildings by Denis Rooney, Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI). Supported by IFI under its Community Bridges Programme, which is managed by the Community Relations Council, the three-year cross-community project is called 'Building Sustainable Interface Partnerships' and has been developed by InterAction Belfast and will work with communities situated along the Falls, Springfield and Shankill interfaces. The aims of the Project are to build trust, allay fear and ultimately create the conditions necessary to build dynamic, vibrant, diverse and empowered communities where the need for walls and barriers no longer exists. Mr Rooney CBE, commented on the £250,000 IFI contributed to the project, and said: "Building Sustainable Interface Partnerships is one such project that has the potential to make a lasting difference to the lives of people living in areas that have seen the worst of the conflict in Northern Ireland."

Childrens' Surgical Care Boosted

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has launched new standards designed to improve the quality of paediatric surgery in Northern Ireland. The standards, which all health Trusts in Northern Ireland will be required to meet, set out the way forward in both general paediatric surgery and paediatric ENT (Ears, Nose and Throat) surgery. "One of my key goals as Health Minister is to ensure that we have an efficient and effective healthcare system which serves the needs of every patient in Northern Ireland, including the youngest members of our society," he said. "Children have unique surgical requirements and through the implementation of these standards, we will ensure that we are doing all we can to meet those needs in the most appropriate and professional way."

(BMcC/GK)