Other NI News In Brief

Sir Reg Slams Inquiry Bid

The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party Sir Reg Empey has criticised the SDLP leader Margaret Richie following her call for an inquiry into murders in Ballymurphy. "The statement by Margaret Ritchie that she is pressing the PM for 'truth and justice' for the families of people killed in Ballymurphy in 1971, illustrates the fact that 'Saville type' inquiries beget more inquiries. Does Margaret want this Ballymurphy incident to be treated as Saville II? If so, I can add one incident of my own to this tally of misery," he said. "On the night of 27/28th June 1970, two innocent men were shot dead on the Newtownards Road by the IRA - they were Jimmy McCurrie and Bobby Neill. Their families recently held a meeting seeking truth and justice," he said. "Where does all this end? What about Bloody Friday in 1972? Any inquiry into that?" he asked, noting that it "indicates that our community just cannot go on like this, with republicans in particular, wanting to rewrite history to try and justify their actions". See: Saville Inquiry Published

Brady 'Should Go'

Most adults in the Irish Republic believe Cardinal Sean Brady should resign because of the sex abuse scandals, a survey suggests. Ulster and Connacht were most supportive of the Irish Primate with 67% saying he should resign. The strongest opposition to the cardinal was found in Dublin where 83% felt he should quit the post. The Irish Times/Ipsos, MRBI survey, taken over two days last week, polled 1,000 voters over 18 on the issue.

'Connecting Health' On Agenda

Experts in the rapidly developing field of Connected Health were yesterday getting a close-up look at the University of Ulster's advances during a major international conference in Belfast. Some 300 leading figures in healthcare, medical devices, engineering technology, academia and industry were attending the European Connected Health Week 2010 on Monday. Connected Health blends technology and medical care in procedures that provide 'remote' delivery of healthcare. It offers flexible opportunities for individuals to engage with clinicians and better self-manage their care. Professor Jim McLaughlin, a University of Ulster physicist and one of the organisers of ECH week, said the conference's wide variety of talks, exhibitions, practical demonstrations and networking opportunities made it a launch-pad for the next phase of worldwide development in the sector.

Pigs Vaccination Ends

The Stormont Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew has announced that vaccination against Aujeszky's Disease in pigs will end from 1 July. This will begin a 12 month vaccine-free qualifying period thus allowing the north of Ireland to apply in due course for EU recognition of disease free status. It is an infectious disease that affects pigs and can cause production and welfare problems as well as having trade implications for the north as a whole. DARD and the industry have been working together since 2004 to achieve Aujeszky’s-free status in order to ease trading restrictions and improve the profitability of the sector. "We are now progressing towards official EU Annex I status which will recognise the region as being free from Aujeszky's Disease. To do this we must remain disease free for 12 months and also have no vaccination within those 12 months," she explained, yesterday.

Roads Service Boosts Carrickfergus

NI Transport Minister Conor Murphy has welcomed the successful completion of Roads Service's 2009/2010 programme of works and the planned £1million in the Carrickfergus area this year. "A range of local schemes have been delivered successfully by Roads Service in the past year," said Minister Murphy. "While the tightening public expenditure environment in the year ahead will be challenging, Roads Service remains committed to ensure it can make best use of our resources and continue to deliver quality public services. "Preparatory work is continuing to dual the Greenisland section of the A2 between Ravenhill and Silverstream. This scheme will relieve congestion and provide a continuous four lane road between Carrickfergus and Whiteabbey." The start date for this scheme will depend upon the availability of funding in future years.

Fined For Pollution Offence

A Co Antrim building company has been fined £4,000 plus £28 court costs at Newtownards Magistrates' Court. W J Law & Co. LLP, of Moira Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway. On 28 February 2008, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA, formerly the Environment and Heritage Service), observed a waterway to be badly polluted with an extensive growth of sewage fungus extending for some 200 metres. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to a sewage pumping station owned by W J Law & Co LLP. A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious and polluting matter, which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving

(BMcC/GK)