Other NI News In Brief

RUC Murder Accused Bailed

A charge of murdering a part-time RUC constable 29 years ago has been put to a Co Londonderry man today. Seamus Martin Kearney, 54, of Gorteade Road, Swatragh, was arrested on Monday and was in Londonderry Magistrates Court today where details of DNA tests carried out on a cigarette butt found among 13 bullet shells at the scene of the murder in September 1981 were given. Mr Kearney, who also faces a charge of possession of a firearm, an Armalite AR 15, with intent to endanger life, was granted bail after he denied the charges. RUC Reserve Constable John Proctor, 25, was shot dead in Magherafelt in September 1981 in a hospital car park when he was visiting his wife and new son in the Mid-Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt. See: RUC Shooting Arrest As Sacrifice Recalled

Millie Mum Bailed

The mother of a Fermanagh toddler who died from horrific injuries has appeared in court charged with child neglect. Rachael Martin's 15-month-old daughter Millie had suffered fractured ribs and a blow to the stomach days before she died in Enniskillen last December. Her partner Barry McCarney has previously been charged with murder. Yesterday, the 25-year-old mum was charged with wilfully neglecting a child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury. She was released on bail having denied the charged.

Meningitis Tragedy

A Co Antrim teenager has died from suspected meningitis at the weekend. Fellow students who lived in the same accommodation as University of Ulster undergraduate Fergal McCaughan - who was found dead in his bed by his younger brother on Saturday morning - have been given treatment after the teenager, who is from the Glenshesk area of Ballycastle died. It is believed that he had been unwell for a number of days, but had not displayed the symptoms usually associated with the deadly disease. He had been due to start his first year at the Jordanstown campus this week.

High Power Summit

The First and Deputy First Ministers are due to meet the Chancellor George Osborne in London today in a discussion that will focus on the local economy and the probable impact of the Chancellor's spending review. Paying for the security situation in Northern Ireland is also likely to be discussed and the Presbyterian Mutual collapse may also be aired in advance of the UK-wide severe cuts to public spending on 20 October. See: Wilson Sounds Stormont Budget Warning

Uniform Response

A Sinn Fein MLA, John O'Dowd, has welcomed a response from the Stormont Education Minister Caitríona Ruane to a written Assembly question which shows that 27,647 children benefited from the primary school uniform since the grant was introduced by 2009. The total grants paid out amounted to £988.336. "While I welcome the availability of this grant the rise in the numbers applying this year is an indication of the severe economic climate in which many families now reside. An extra 2,500 children were awarded the grant this year than in 2009," he said, noting that a widening of the Free School Meals scheme by the Minister which will also assist families.

TUV Leader To Stand

Outspoken politician, Jim Allister has said that he wants to personally fight next year's Assembly election, as his party, the TUV salts away money for the election battle. While some assumed he would leave politics after losing heavily to Ian Paisley Jnr in North Antrim at the general election, he said this week he wanted to see the TUV fight across the province. Both Mr Allister and DUP leader Peter Robinson were notably absent from the political scene following May's election but the bitter rivals have separately re-emerged in recent weeks.

Belfast At Peace

A north Belfast interface was the venue for a special cross-community remembrance and reflection ceremony last night. People from both NI traditions gathered in Duncairn Gardens to acknowledge the "hurt inflicted on the entire community" in the area as part of the Respect programme which is run by Ashton Community Trust on behalf of The Office of the First and Deputy First Minister at Stormont. Two 17-year-old students - one Protestant and one Catholic - read out a statement agreed by political representatives and former paramilitaries educators and community workers.

(BMcC)