Other NI News In Brief

Newtownabbey Shooting

A 31-year-old man has been left in a serious condition in hospital after being shot in Glengormley. The PSNI said that two men entered a house at Mayfield Court at around 10pm on Wednesday and opened fire with the victim shot in the stomach. A woman, who was also in the house at the time, escaped injury. Condemnations Follows Glengormley Shooting

Bangor Flat Protests

Bangor residents have held a protest against a proposed development in the town centre. Around 60 people gathered outside North Down Council on Tuesday to protest against plans for an apartment block on the site of an existing car showroom. Planning permission for the five-storey building with 32 apartments was due to be granted at the council meeting. The decision has now been put on hold with Green Party MLA Steven Agnew saying the development would be completely out of character with the area. "They believe it's over-development. It's going to cause great parking issues. Basically, the residents are saying, we live here, this isn't in our interests and it's not in the interests of the people of Bangor," he said.

Cookstown Parking In Focus

The NI Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy visited Cookstown this week to accept a petition objecting to the introduction of on-street parking charges: "One of my first decisions as Minister was to urgently review the proposed introduction of on-street parking charges in towns across Northern Ireland. I received a petition last week from the people of Comber on the same issue and, in the coming weeks, I will continue to meet with groups to listen to what they have to say on this matter. On-street parking charges are a top priority and I am determined to hear a range of views, including traders, residents, shoppers, Chamber of Commerce and local representatives," he said.

Liquer Exports Aided

Boozeberries in Dromore is being assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to expand sales of a range of innovative berry liqueurs for export to the US, Europe, and Australia. Formed by husband and wife team Stuart and Barbara Hughes in May 2010, Boozeberries has already won a string of international awards for its first handcrafted products using cranberries, blackcurrants and blueberries in a grain spirit. Having achieved initial sales in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Boozeberries is now investing over £450,000 to step up production and drive business in target markets outside Northern Ireland. Invest NI is offering financial assistance of £45,000 to help Boozeberries to achieve its targets, including the employment of six people by the end of 2013.

(BMcC/GK)