Other News In Brief

Woman Fined For Fuel Laundering Waste Offences

A woman from Cullyhanna has been fined for fuel laundering waste offences at Newry Magistrates' Court today.

Helen Johnston of Cloghoge Road, was fined £12,500 and an offenders' levy of £15.

In March 2014, officers from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), accompanied by PSNI and Customs officers, inspected premises owned by Ms Johnston at Cloghoge Road, Cullyhanna. Approximately 80 tonnes of suspected fuel laundering waste was found alongside a fuel laundering plant.

The site did not have a licence, and it was not authorised by the NIEA to store, keep or treat controlled waste.

PSNI Apologises Following Attack On East Belfast Parade

The Chief Constable of the PSNI has apologised following the Police Ombudsman report into the attack on members of Ballymacarrett District Lodge as they returned home along the Newtownards Road on 12th July 2013.

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson, who was one of those attacked on that evening, welcomed the apology.

He said: "Within three days of this attack in 2013 the PSNI confirmed to us that the first missiles thrown emanated from Short Strand. It is welcome that now, two years later, the Chief Constable has issued this public apology.

It is disappointing that this outcome required a lengthy investigation by the Police Ombudsman following a complaint by No. 6 District LOL. An apology at the time would have been a great help to relations in the area but I would hope this public recognition can help draw a line under the issue."

New Look Líofa Website Unveiled

The new look Líofa website has been unveiled.

Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín brought MLAs up to date with work on the website, which is now live at www.liofa.eu.

The Minister said: "In November of last year I advised the Assembly that I was taking down the Líofa website as a result of security issues that had been raised. The website was suspended immediately and I ordered a review of the site.

"While independent IT consultants identified several vulnerabilities with the old website, they found no evidence that it had been hacked. There was also no evidence that the database was accessed by a third party.

"However, I wish to take every reasonable precaution in moving forward and asked for a replacement website to be built from the ground up and that it be hosted by the government. The new Líofa.eu site has been tested by independent security consultants prior to going live and will undergo a similar tests annually. The website will be protected by the same security standards and protocols used for other government sites."

(CD)