Other NI News In Brief

Upholding Standards

There were celebrations for Whiteabbey people last weekend with Joe Corr, second left, Whiteabbey Royal British Legion Standard Bearer, receiving the congratulations of Branch Secretary, Terry Chester on his achievement of the Brig J A Stinton VC Memorial Trophy in an NI-wide standard bearer competition recently. Joe and his wife, Rosaleen and Betty Magill, (right) were also honoured with the presentation of 35 year long service badges for their work for the Legion's Poppy Appeal, as did Ryan Greene, (not pictured).

Tragic Kids Die

There was a double tragedy as two children in neighbouring housing estates in west Belfast have killed themselves. In unconnected incidents, Martin Rooney, 13, and 11-year-old Ciara Doherty died at their homes in Twinbrook and Mount Eagles. PIPS, the suicide prevention organisation said it is concerned about the number of calls it is receiving from parents about their young children. The news came as the funeral of Karen Cromie, who took her own life on a busy Belfast flyover last Friday, was due to take place in Co Fermanagh today. The 31-year-old from Ballinamallard was found under the flyover on the main Bangor to Belfast road two weeks after she threatened to take her own life at the same place. Ms Cromie - who was handicapped - took part in the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008 and was a talented rower and worked at the Sports Institute at Jordanstown. She lost the use of her legs after a fall while at university in Edinburgh several years ago.

Rail Line Fatality Probed

A man has died after he being struck by a train between Portadown and Lisburn. It happened around 5.30pm on Saturday when a Belfast-bound train coming from Dublin hit the victim. Police are investigating.

Mother's Appeal

The violent death of a schoolboy who was killed after being chased onto a railway track won't lead to prosecutions after the Public Prosecution Service said that it did not have enough evidence to prosecute two suspects who police recommended face manslaughter charges for the death of Ryan Quinn. His mother has now appealed for those who know what happened to "clear their consciences". Detectives believe that they have yet to speak to some witnesses to an assault on the 14-year-old in the vicinity of McLaughlin's Bar in Portrush, where he was at a birthday party two years ago yesterday, before being chased onto the track.

Bomb Was Hoax

Around 50 homes and some businesses that had been evacuated while a suspect bomb operation took place in the Mountcollyer area of the York Road were able to return that same evening. Friday's alert caused further traffic disruption in the area following three days of diversions around the scene of two bombs left on the Antrim Road earlier last week.

(BMcC/GK)