Other NI News In Brief

Cloth Ear Excels

Adrian McLoughlin, General Manager of The Merchant Hotel accepts the Best Pub award on behalf of the hotel's Cloth Ear bar from Glenda Nelson of firmus energy after it was announced as Belfast's Best Pub at a recent gala event for the city's Business Awards 2011. This highly contested category was sponsored by local natural gas supplier firmus energy that actually supplies them with natural gas.

Death 'Not Suspicious'

The death of a man, aged 37, who was found at a house in south Belfast is not being treated as suspicious. His body was found at a property in Burmah Street off the Ormeau Road at about 1.30pm on Tuesday. Police carried out a forensic search of the house on Wednesday and a post mortem examination was carried out on the man's body.

Older People Missing Benefits

A Strangford DUP Assembly candidate, Jonathan Bell has stated that confusion about the workings of the pension credit scheme is leaving many older people living in poverty and having a damaging knock-on effect to the local economy. "Many pensioners entitled to their pension credit are losing out through confusion regarding their entitlements," he said, noting that there must be a more effective awareness up to and including consideration of automatic entitlement of pension credit for older people.

Car Dealer Caught Out

A Limavady car trader, who posed as a private seller and supplied a 'clocked' vehicle with a false MoT certificate and service history, was this week fined a total of £750 plus £148 costs. Limavady Magistrates' Court also imposed a £1,323 compensation order in a case brought by the Trading Standards Service of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment against Richard Grieve, of Derrychrier Road, Dungiven, who pleaded guilty to six charges under the Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Trading Standards Service received a complaint that Mr Grieve had sold an Audi A4 motorcar with an incorrect mileage. The vehicle had been advertised on a car selling website with 70,000 miles. In fact, the car had travelled in the region of 115,823 miles. To support the false mileage, Grieve supplied a false service history and false MOT certificate.

SF Are Top Billing

The Sinn Fein MP Martin McGuinness has joined West Belfast election candidates at the launch of the party's election billboard. "As we enter the final phase of the election campaign, billboards like this will be going up at sites across the six counties. Our message is a positive one about building a new future based on equality. We are calling for the largest possible vote for Sinn Fein on May 5th," he said.

Birds On The Line

Twitter enthusiasts of a different kind will be gathering in Ness Country Park to revel in the sights and sounds of the Dawn Chorus next month. Bird watchers can enjoy the world's oldest wake up call at Ness Country Park on Sunday 1 May at 4.00am during a walk organised by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) with a number of experts listening to the beautiful sound of birdsong at this early hour. Seamus Carten from NIEA said: "This event showcases the wonder of the natural sound of birdsong in our park. As well as the sounds of the park you will see wonderful sights - we definitely recommend binoculars and cameras on the day. Places are limited and you can book by calling on 028 7772 2074," he said, noting that Ness Country Park lies in the steep, wooded glen of the Burntollet Valley, southeast of Londonderry.

(BMcC/GK)