Other NI News In Brief

Dead Drive Disbaility Cars

5,000 blue badges for disabled motorists were registered to dead people in NI, the Audit Office has said. The details have emerged in a new report by the NI Auditor General who said £11m of fraud, error and over-payments had been identified following consideration of the National Fraud Initiative (NFI). It is believed total savings from the initiative may eventually exceed £16m.

Dad Found Guilty Over Son's Death

The death of an infant, Cameron Jay Leslie - who was just 14-weeks-old when he died in hospital - has been recalled today when a jury found 26-year-old Ryan John Leslie guilty of murdering his own baby son on 6 September, 2008. Belfast Crown Court found his father guilty of murder and causing grievous bodily harm and the judge told Leslie he had "brutalised and murdered" his son. Leslie was given a mandatory life sentence and his tariff will be set at a hearing on 18 March.

Dope Haul Praised

Lisburn Alliance South representative Stephen Martin has hailed the efforts of the PSNI following yesterday's searches of a number of properties in the Lisburn area in relation to an investigation into conspiracy to supply and money laundering offences. "I understand that the police have searched a number of houses in Lisburn in which they seized sums of money and significant amounts of illegal drugs as part of an investigation into criminal activity. People stand 'Full Square' with the PSNI in their efforts to rid society of their poisonous influence," he said.

Caravanners Win Protection

Caravan owners are to be better protected from 'bad practice' by site owners, following the Assembly's approval of the Caravans Bill this week. More than 14,000 static holiday caravan owners will have increased protection including the right to a written contract and to have a greater say in how their caravan site is run, following approval of the first private member's Bill ever passed here. Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood, welcomed the news: "For years, some caravan owners here had to accept changes made by site owners. This has meant raised fees, moved caravans and even eviction from sites, without much protection. This Bill will make a difference to those people, by clearly setting out in law the obligations for site owners and holiday caravan owners," he said.

Bangor Grammar School Expands

Farrans are due to start work within the next few weeks on a new state of the art Bangor Grammar School valued at over £15m. The work will consist of a new 850 pupil second level school, schools meals accommodation, synthetic pitches, grass pitches, external play spaces, landscaping, parking and site works. Farrans said they are delighted to be working with the Team involved in the construction of this project. The work will take approximately two calendar years to complete, which means the school will be moving on to the new campus in February or, at the latest, Easter of 2013.

(BMcC/GK)