Other NI News In Brief

Dougal Wins PR Award

The accolade of Outstanding Contribution to Public Affairs has been handed out by the leading organisation, CIPR NI to Andrew Dougal OBE, of NI Chest, Heart & Stroke. He is shown here, centre, with Joanne Sweeney, Chair of CIPR NI and Jay O'Connor, CIPR President. Newtownabbey Borough Council's communications won the gold award for 'Outstanding In-House Team' while Holywood-based Smarts picked up seven silver awards and three golds, including the title of 'Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy and Zoe Cunningham, Communications Manager, Cola-Cola HBC, picked up the gold award for 'Outstanding Young Communicator'. The work of PR professionals in the public, private and voluntary sectors is recognised in the 2010 CIPR NI PRide Awards as the only awards scheme which showcases the best PR work being carried out across the UK regions and nations and sets industry standards.

'Save The Glens', Says MLA

There has been a call to save east Belfast's most iconic sporting team. Robin Newton the DUP MLA for the area, said the problems at Glentoran Football Club are to be very much regretted and all avenues to put matters right at the Oval must be explored. "For the sake of football right across Northern Ireland it is absolutely imperative that the future of the Glens is secured," he said. "Glentoran and East Belfast are one and the same and even those football fans who are not 'Glen men' wouldn't want this situation of a threat hanging over the club's very existence. It is unimaginable that a club with such a long and proud history as Glentoran should not exist and to be put off the pitch by the tax man is unthinkable," he said, referring to the club's mounting debts and its likely forclosure following moves to recover a large tax bill.

Top Photographer Recalled

As top photographer, John Harrison is buried today, the staff of the Government's Executive Information Service have expressed their shock at the sudden loss of their friend and colleague. Speaking about John, the Director of the Executive's Information Service Stephen Grimason said: "John was at the pinnacle of his profession, acclaimed locally, nationally and internationally. The ultimate professional, his engaging style won him the admiration of presidents and prime ministers. He has been at all the key moments and events of our recent past. His work over the past 30 years is a photographic record of the social, economic and political life of Northern Ireland. "Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife Mandy and his children Peter, Thomas and Catherine, as we mourn the passing of a wonderful human being," he concluded.

Sunday Hoaxes

Sunday traffic in Belfast was held up by a hoax device that was left at the railings of an Orange hall. The Westlink was closed in both directions for several hours as Army Technical Officers examined the device at the building in Clifton Street which was later declared a deliberate hoax and the Westlink reopened. Earlier yesterday, the M2 motorway was also closed after a suspicious object was found at Finlay Park in Newtownabbey.

Jools Storms Belfast

Modern Boogie-woogie fronted by the superb Jools Holland and his huge 18 piece band took Belfast by storm last weekend. The packed house, that including even a blind man and his partner who jived in the Waterfront Hall's aisles, were on their feet as encore followed encore and it was only with regret – on both sides – that the audience and orchestra parted company. A hugely successful, multi-talented and hugely enjoyable – it was just a pity it was, 'For One Night Only'. See full review at: Jools Drums Into Belfast's Psyche

Poppy Plea

Mid-Ulster DUP Assembly MLA, Ian McCrea has encouraged people across NI to give their full support to the annual Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and to wear a poppy with pride. "The Poppy Appeal aims to serve those who have and are serving their country and this year we think especially of those who are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and we should never forget the sacrifice made in both World Wars," he said. "I want to pay tribute to the brave men and women of the Armed Forces especially to those members of the RUC/RUCR, PSNI, UDR and the RIR, who put themselves on the front line and we must also remember the families of those who lost their lives and those who suffered serious injury while protecting the people of Northern Ireland from the scourge of terrorism," he said today.

(BMcC/GK)