Other NI News In Brief

Rescue Call

Volunteers are being sought to help as the search resumes for a Londonderry teenager who went missing in Lough Swilly at the weekend. Lifeboat crews joined local search and recovery teams after Sean McNair, 17, fell from a pier at Rathmullan early on Saturday morning. Mr McNair had jumped from the pier with a cousin and a friend during birthday celebrations. Seconds later they heard him call for help and he hasn't been seen since.

Human Rights

The NI Secretary of State Owen Paterson has announced the appointment of Michael O'Flaherty as the new Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, while a victims' campaigner who lost his wife and father-in-law in an IRA bombing has been appointed as one of the other new members. Alan McBride's family members were killed in the 1993 IRA bombing on a fish shop on Belfast's Shankill Road. The others are Grainia Long, Christine Collins, John Corey, Milton Kerr, Marion Reynolds and Paul Yam who are also new Commissioners. "The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission plays an important role in protecting and promoting human rights in Northern Ireland. The new Chief Commissioner and seven new Commissioners bring with them skills, understanding and knowledge that will contribute greatly to the Commission's work," said Owen Paterson.

Coastguard Saved

The DUP Strangford MP Jim Shannon has welcomed the decision by Transport Minister Phillip Hammond ensuring that Bangor Coastguard Station will retain its full-time status. "I pay tribute to all those who worked with their elected representatives to bring this about. I also thank the [Stormont] First Minister and his Executive colleagues who made representations on behalf of the Bangor Coastguard campaign," he said, noting, "without a doubt the closure of Bangor would have put lives at risk as it not only provides an excellent service to the United Kingdom but also for the Irish Republic as well.

Farmer Pays For Pollution

A farmer, Patrick McVerry, of Tullyah Road, Belleeks, has been fined £500 plus court costs of £28 at Newry Magistrates' Court today for making a polluting discharge to a waterway. On 4 December 2009 a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), inspected the Cusher River at Whitecross and observed the waterway was grossly polluted with farm effluent. The waterway appeared to be black in colour and bloodworms were present in the stream. The source of the pollution was traced to the silage clamp area where the inspector observed an effluent diverter system was in use. A bung was placed in the inlet pipe to the effluent collection tanks causing the silage effluent to be diverted to the field below where the effluent flowed from the saturated field to the watercourse. A sample collected on 4 December 2009 confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

'Port' Trouble Slammed

The Upper Bann Alliance Representative Cllr Sheila McQuaid has condemned trouble in Portadown that took place in the Corcrain Road and Charles Street areas last weekend. "I am disgusted at the activities of those involved in this disorder. I would appeal for people to act responsibly. This type of incident is deeply damaging and we need to ensure stability to help us grow our economy. We need to build good relations, and community relations work is the key to ensuring a brighter future for everyone," she said.

(BMcC/GK)