Other NI News In Brief

NIE Powers Up

Several thousand people were left without power overnight because of high winds and they may not be back on supply until Tuesday evening, Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) has said. NIE said its engineers had worked throughout the night and 3,000 customers were still without power after more than 70,000 homes and businesses were affected at the height of the power cuts. Parts of south Derry and north Antrim were particularly badly affected.

Airport Runway Probe Delayed

East Belfast residents have expressed their surprise at a last-minute move by George Best Belfast City Airport, which will further delay the long-awaited public inquiry on the airport's controversial proposed runway extension. The body holding the inquiry, the Planning Appeals Commission, recently wrote to residents who objected to the plan inviting them to an initial meeting about the inquiry. But the Commission has now announced that it will have to put the inquiry on hold because the airport said it wants to submit further relevant environmental information which the Department of the Environment must first give the public a chance to comment on. See: City Airport Hits Back Over Inquiry Delay

McGuinness Backs A&E

The NI Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness has welcomed Health Minister Edwin Poot's criticism of the decision by his predecessor, Michael McGimpsey to close the A&E Department at the Mid-Ulster Hospital. "I welcome the comments by the Health Minister reflecting my own longstanding criticism of Michael McGimpsey's ill-informed decision to close the A&E Department of the Mid-Ulster Hospital. I hope that Edwin Poots will re-evaluate A&E provision throughout the Health Service and ensure that all areas have proper access to A&E services."

Litter Fines

Three people have been prosecuted by Belfast City Council for littering offences. Orla Brown, from Hawthorn View in Hannahstown, was fined £50 and ordered to pay costs of £66 for failing to provide information about an alleged littering offence at Cromac Street on September 29, 2010, when a cigarette butt was thrown from a car. Glenn Mateer, from High Park Crescent in west Belfast, was fined £30 and ordered to pay costs of £66 for dropping a cigarette butt at Castle Lane on November 10, 2010. Philip McDonagh, from Woodvale in Dromore, was fined £60 and ordered to pay costs of £66 for failing to provide information about an alleged littering offence at Lisburn Road on September 2, 2010, when a cigarette butt was thrown from a car.

(BMcC/GK)