Other NI News In Brief

Bar Is Star Performer

An east Belfast bar and restaurant is celebrating its birthday later this month. Horatio Todd's was acquired by Botanic Inns in 2010 when the bar underwent a £250,000 refurbishment. Speaking ahead of their anniversary, General Manager Morgan Watson said: "Horatio Todd's is the first bar and restaurant that Botanic Inns has opened in east Belfast and the reaction has been phenomenal," he enthused. "We've had a very successful first year and I'd like to thank all of our many customers for all of their support and for welcoming us into the community. We will be hosting our first birthday party on Friday 25th February and we hope that our customers or anyone who has not visited us before to come along for a great night out," he said. He is shown here getting ready for the party with Niamh Tang, Morgan Watson and Suzanne Orr.

Dentist 'Twice Outlined Death Plot'

Killer dentist Colin Howell has told the trial of his former lover Hazel Stewart, 47, that he remembered that he had twice told Mrs Stewart of the murder plot, not once as he had previously said. Double murderer Howell has been giving evidence against the Co Londonderry defendant who denies the murders of her husband Trevor Buchanan and Lesley Howell in 1991. Howell has already been sentenced to at least 21 years for the murders. He previously told the trial that he had met her at a local beauty spot and handed over drugs for her to give to her husband Trevor to get him ready to be killed. However, on Thursday he said there had been another meeting prior to this, when he had gone to her home and presented her with the plan. But, her defence team maintains there was no real plan and that Howell had acted on the spur of the moment on the night of the killings.

Ligonel Bus Returns

A north Belfast bus route is back on again afer being withdrawn following an armed robbery. Two masked men armed with a gun and a knife robbed a bus driver in the Ligonel area on Thurdsay night. The vehicle was parked at the terminus on Mountainhill Road around 6.10pm when the men got on demanding money and made off with cash. He was uninjured but has been left badly shaken. Earlier, Michael Dornan from the UNITE Union said services were withdrawn last night after the incident and for a time on Friday.

Fraud Jailed

A man was convicted at Belfast Crown court this week for claiming benefits he was not entitled to. Gary Edens, 34, of Wolfhill Avenue South, Belfast claimed Income Support totalling £27,927 while failing to declare capital. He was given a 12 month custodial sentence, six of which to be served in detention and the remaining six on licence. He will also have to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

CO Danger Tackled

It has been revealed that carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are to be fitted in over 3,000 NI Housing Executive homes with glass fronted fires. The NI Social Development Minister Alex Attwood made the announcement today following tragic deaths from carbon monoxide poisioning last year, after which he instructed the NIHE to conduct a review of safety in its properties. Alex Attwood said: "By 31 March, 943 of the remaining 3,665 NIHE properties with glass fronted room heater fires will have had their heating systems replaced. The remaining 2,722 properties will have carbon monoxide detectors fitted and all will be scheduled in maintenance programmes to have their heating systems replaced next year." he said. See: Gas Death Mums Make Warning Movie

Dealer 'Clocked' Cars

A Ballymena car dealer who sold a 'clocked' car to a consumer and misdescribed two further cars was fined a total of £1,000 plus costs at Ballymena Magistrates' Court. Sitting at Antrim Magistrates' Court, the District Judge also issued compensation orders totalling £1,025 to be paid to the buyers of two of the cars. In a case brought by the Trading Standards Service of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Seven Towers Autos Co Ltd, trading from Moorfields Road, Ballymena, was found guilty of four charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

US Trip For NI Firms

Seven local companies working in renewable energy and environmental technology are working with Invest Northern Ireland to develop business contacts with Cleantech (clean technology) industry leaders in the US. The group will visit Pittsburgh to take part in a unique Cleantech meet the buyer initiative from 21-24 February. The visit is designed to promote Northern Ireland’s capability in renewable energy and environmental technologies for both trade development and inward investment. Invest NI has set up the opportunity as part of a Carbon Zero NI programme, which involves the six further education colleges in Northern Ireland and is led by the South West College and the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh.

LRA Chair Retained

The NI Employment and Learning Minister, Danny Kennedy, has confirmed the reappointment of James McCusker as Chairperson of the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) Board. The appointment will take effect from 1 February 2011 and run until 31 January 2014. He was first appointed as Chairperson of the LRA Board in 2008.

Forests Freed From Privatisation

A consultation on the future management of the Public Forest Estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman confirmed yesterday. The Government has in fact abandoned its controversial plans to privatise England's public forests in the face of widespread criticism. Caroline Spelman admitted that "we got this one wrong", as she said she was halting the public consultation into the plans. The proposals to offload the public forest estate to companies, communities and charities had met with protests and criticism from conservation groups and campaigners, who hailed the U-turn a victory for "people power".

(BMcC/GK)