Other NI News In Brief

Shivers Ill-Health Causes Additional Charges To Be Withdrawn

Additional charges against Brian Shivers, who was convicted of the murders of two soldiers at Massareene Army Barracks, have been withdrawn while lawyers wait for a medical report into his present state of health.

The 47-year-old, of Sperrin Walk, Magherafelt, is serving a life sentence for the murders of Mark Quinsey, 23, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, and had been charged with other offences including resisting arrest.

District Judge Desmond Perry ordered the medical report to be submitted by September 30 when the charges will be formally withdrawn.

Yellow Pylons In Straid

Electric pylons in Straid, County Antrim, have been painted bright yellow while Northern Ireland Electricity maintains the overhead lines.

Painters scaled the pylon, giving them a first coat in yellow to make sure they did not miss anything second time round, when the pylons go back to a dark grey colour.

Alister Fenton of NIE told the Ballyclare Gazette: "Just like the Forth Road Bridge, we paint the metal work on our towers or pylons to keep them in good condition and extend their lifespan. Every year we paint approximately 175 towers. We have around 3500 towers or pylons across Northern Ireland so it is a continual cycle."

59 Sheep Stolen In Tyrone

Police have issued a call for information after £4,000 worth of sheep were stolen from Newtownstewart Livestock Mart.

The 59 sheep, which were four to five months old and marked with green dye, were left at the Douglas Road premises overnight after they failed to sell at auction.

Omagh district council Bert Wilson urged farmers to be vigilant.

He told the Tyrone Constitution: "The fact that these animals were taken from the mart premises shows that it is an organised gang who knew what they were doing carrying out the theft, as the sheep would have all been penned in overnight. The incident will certainly cause farmers to think twice before leaving their livestock overnight at any mart in the future, and certainly my advice would be to take your animals home with you the same day.

"At a time when farmers are facing enough problems with unfavourable weather conditions and prices, this sort of thing can be ill-afforded."

(NE)