Other NI News In Brief

Belfast Blaze Fatal

A woman has died in a house fire in north Belfast. The police and fire service attended the blaze at Chichester Park North, off the Antrim Road after the fire was apparently started accidentally. A smoke alarm in the house was not working. Meanwhile, ten families have spent the night out of their homes after a fire in Millisle, Co Down. A blaze destroyed a large garage at a house on the Donaghadee Road and Acetylene bottles were found on the premises with a 200 metre exclusion zone then set up by the fire service until 8pm on Wednesday as these are treated as 'unexploded bombs' when subject to heat extremes.

Alliance 'Disappeared' Condolences

Following confirmation that remains found at Waterfoot beach in November were those of Peter Wilson, one of the so-called 'Disappeared' IRA murder victims, East Antrim Alliance Representative Cllr Stewart Dickson said he wishes to pass on his deepest condolences to Mr Wilson's family. Cllr Stewart Dickson said: "On behalf of the Alliance Party I want to pass on our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Peter Wilson at this very difficult time. I want to express how tragic it is that a beach that normally rings with the happy voices of people on holiday should be the scene of such a brutal act. The thoughts of all of us are with Peter Wilson's family as they deal with this very sad occasion."

DUP Slam SDLP On Victims Bill

DUP Assembly Member Peter Weir has expressed his disappointment at the actions of the SDLP, Alliance and MLA Dawn Purvis in voting to scupper a Bill to amend the definition of a victim in the Assembly. "Sinn Fein could not have stopped the Bill, they needed the collaboration and connivance of the SDLP. Many people who voted for the SDLP and Alliance will be disgusted that they support the continuance of the odious definition that equates innocent victims with the people responsible for inflicting their suffering," claimed the MLA. Under its proposed Victims and Survivors Bill, anyone convicted of terrorism or membership of proscribed organisations would be excluded, but Sinn Fein and the SDLP lodged a Petition of Concern and won and the Order now makes no distinction between paramilitaries, who were killed or injured, and other victims.

Christmas Toy Thefts Condemned

North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds has called for an end to attacks on the 174 Trust, a non-denominational Christian charity based on the lower Antrim Road. Christmas presents due to be given to severely disabled children were stolen during a break-in at the weekend, the second time gifts have been stolen this winter. This follows as arson attack in September, the theft of a wheelchair and computer equipment and incidents of stone-throwing and abusive name-calling by young people directed at severely disabled children coming to the centre. "It is very disturbing to hear of this litany of attacks against the 174 Trust, a long-standing Christian charity. The small minority of people responsible for these criminal acts are bringing shame on their community. I would urge local people to do all they can to stop any further incidents from occurring and to pass on any information which would assist the police investigation into these despicable thefts and attacks," said the DUP MP.

Something In The Air?

High levels of air pollution are being forecast overnight across Northern Ireland and are likely to persist until Thursday morning. During periods of higher pollution the symptoms of people with lung or heart disease may worsen. Healthy people are unlikely to experience any ill effects.

Students To 'Drive Safe'

The University of Ulster Students' Union is set to launch a road safety campaign designed to make young drivers think about the dangers on NI roads. Emma Annett, Sean Cunningham and Alasdair O'Hara from Coleraine are teaming up with the PSNI and the Fire and Rescue Service to get the 'safe driving' message across to students on the North Coast. The hard-hitting campaign, which will be launched in the New Year - will involve a dummy car crash taking place outside the Students' Union to highlight the stark reality of a fatal accident.

Drinkers Get Street Fines

Two men have been fined in court for breaching alcohol by-laws. Raymond Leigh, from Altmore Walk in Glenarm, Co Antrim, was fined £60 and ordered to pay costs of £66 after he was detected drinking alcohol at Royal Avenue in Belfast on July 8, 2010. Ciaran Steven Brendan Black, with an address at Morning Star Hostel on Divis Street, was fined £75 and ordered to pay costs of £66 after he was detected drinking alcohol at Grosvenor Road on June 20, 2010. Both the prosecutions were brought by Belfast City Council.

(BMcC/GK)