Other NI News In Brief

Belfast On Show

The Lord Mayor's annual Parade took to the streets of Belfast on Saturday and proved to be a colourful and joyous celebration of community inclusion and diversity. It left Writer's Square, opposite St Anne Cathedral, at noon, then moved along Royal Avenue and Donegall Place before finishing at the City Hall, where a Global Café was set up in the grounds. Picture: Brian McCalden

Lisburn Road On Alert

Army bomb disposal experts are at the scene of a security alert in south Belfast where Moonstone Street has been closed at its junction with the Lisburn Road and a number of houses have been evacuated.

Dublin Line Train Crashes

A train has struck an abandoned, stolen car on the main Belfast to Dublin rail line. It happened near Meigh in Co Armagh at around 6am on Monday. Translink said the railway was closed between Newry and Dundalk and bus substitutions in place. It has since been reopened. The train was empty of passengers at the time and the crew escaped injury.

Drogheda Arrests

Three men from NI have been arrested near Drogheda, Co Louth, as part of an investigation by Irish police into dissident republican activity. They were detained after a stolen lorry containing alcohol was stopped on the M1 Belfast to Dublin road at 11pm on Sunday. Three other men were arrested in a follow-up operation in Delvin, Co Westmeath. Two trailers containing alcohol was also seized.

Newry Renewal For Health

The NI Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has awarded funding for a four year health and well being improvement programme in Newry. The programme aims to improve the physical and mental health of residents within the Newry Neighbourhood Renewal Area. "The links between deprivation and poor health are well known. This funding will help to tackle this issue by offering a range of structured health promotion projects targeting physical and mental health issues including emotional well-being. It will help to improve the quality of the lives of residents in the Newry Neighbourhood Renewal Area and address some of the problems identified by the Neighbourhood Partnership Board in its Action Plan for regenerating the area," he said, today.

Military Health Focus

The annual Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards (MCHPA) were launched last week across the UK, opening the nomination process for entries. Celebrating the partnership between Britain's military and health care workers, the Awards are open to civilian health staff and military medics working within the Defence Medical Services, the NHS and the private or voluntary sector. They honour exceptional service provided by those who care for serving members of the UK armed forces at home and abroad, veterans and dependants. Stormont Health Minister Edwin Poots said: "As Health Minister it is a great personal privilege for me to launch this year’s competition in Northern Ireland. The competition will recognise and strengthen the partnership between Britain's military and civilian healthcare workers and, as it did in previous years, it will provide an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate many examples of their selfless commitment. Northern Ireland had the honour of hosting these awards last year and indeed proved successful in wining in two out of the nine categories. I am extremely proud of those individuals, along with the other finalists, who had the opportunity to showcase their exceptional skills and celebrate achievements as the unsung heroes in delivering care to our armed forces." See: www.militarycivilianhealthawards.org

Jail For Frauds

A couple were convicted at Craigavon Crown Court last week for claiming benefits they were not entitled to. Mary Duffin (51) of Deramore Park, Moira failed to declare employment while claiming Severe Disablement Allowance totalling £13,451. She was given three months imprisonment suspended for two years. Alan Duffin (50) of the same address failed to declare employment while claiming Income Support, Carers Allowance and Rates Relief totalling £69,214. He was given 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years. Both are also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

Recycling Urged

The NI Environment Minister Alex Attwood has marked the start of Recycle Week (20–26 June) by calling on businesses to recognise the opportunities recycling has to boost the economy. The Minister was visiting Mallusk-based ISL Waste Management, which, in conjunction with Henderson Retail, recently won the prestigious Let's Recycle High Street Recycling Champion National Award. "The recycling sector is a vitally important part of the Northern Ireland economy. Recycling rates have continued to improve in Northern Ireland. There is no doubt that the work and services of companies like ISL Waste Management and the Henderson Group have all contributed by ensuring that there is a sustainable end market for these materials."

(BMcC)