Other NI News In Brief

Fun Fights Cancer

Gerry McElwee Head of Cancer Prevention, Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF), Lizzie Lumsden from sponsors Lidl Northern Ireland and Tyrone footballer Joe McMahon are all pictured with Autumn from Ballysally Primary School celebrating Ballysally Primary in Coleraine taking first place with their creative entry in a competition to promote healthy eating and physical activity with a programme created by Lidl and the UCF. Over 12,000 pupils from schools across Northern Ireland took part in the 2010 Lidl Fit Factor programme.

Newry Bomb Charges

A 51-year-old man has been charged in connection with a car bomb attack on Newry courthouse in February. The accused was arrested by detectives from the PSNI's Serious Crime Branch in Dunmurry on Monday and has been charged with causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause damage to property. He is expected to appear in court in Newry on Wednesday. See: Newry Car Bomb Condemned

Dundalk Bomb Suspect Remanded

A 56-year-old man from Dundalk has been remanded in custody charged at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin with unlawful possession of explosive substances. Philip McKevitt of Aghaboy, Mount Pleasant in Dundalk, faced charges of unlawful possession of explosive substances, an improvised trailer and two gas cylinders adapted to cause an explosion. Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given to the three-judge, non-jury court by Detective Garda Kieran Reegan of the Special Detective Unit. A second man, in his 30s, also arrested at the scene, was yesterday still being questioned in connection with the discovery of an alleged dissident bomb-making factory near Dundalk over the weekend. It had been reported that a bomb attack was to be mounted across the border in NI and had been foiled by the Irish police.

Chicken Businesses Merge

Agreement on a combined chicken production business that will employ 8,500 people also spells as many as 30 redundancies between the two companies following Moy Park's acquisition of its rival O'Kane Poultry. About 300 farmers who produce chickens for O'Kanes will now switch to Moy Park but current expansion of O'Kanes turkey processing plant at Ballymena will continue. The new factory is expected to come on stream later this year.

Older People 'On Report'

Junior Ministers Robin Newton MLA and Gerry Kelly MLA have published a report on proposals to establish a Commissioner for Older People. It follows an extensive consultation process involving public events attended by more than 400 people and 80 written responses. Junior Minister Robin Newton also introduced legislation to the Assembly this week to begin the process of creating a Commissioner and said: "I welcome that we have started the process of establishing a Commissioner for Older People. This will ensure that older people are given their rightful place as full and valued members of our community," noting that, with Assembly agreement, it is intended that the legislation should be passed by February or March of next year and a Commissioner appointed soon after. Copies of the report are available on the OFMDFM website at: www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/index/equality/age/older-peoples-commissioner.htm

High Fliers

Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast has won the Composites UK Innovation of the Year Award 2009. The Belfast operation's application of its pioneering resin transfer infusion technology to large scale aerospace structures impressed the judges due to its ability to produce large composite parts in one single piece, thereby resulting in significant material savings and reduced cycle times. Bombardier is using the innovative technology in the design and manufacture of the advanced composite wings for Bombardier's new CSeries aircraft, which, at entry into service in 2013, will be the 'greenest' single aisle aircraft in its class.

(BMcC/GK)