Other News In Brief

Concerns Raised Over Mental Health Services

A motion has been brought to the NI Assembly over concerns that mental health services are at crisis point.

SDLP Health Spokesperson and South Belfast MLA Fearghal McKinney said the services require a genuine cross-departmental approach to deal with the long-standing issues facing mental health patients across the North.

Mr McKinney said: "Over the past eight years we have had a number of policy interventions that have attempted to improve mental health care and treatment by moving care into the community, closer to the patient’s home. However a tirade of budget cuts have dramatically affected their ability to improve services and there is now the danger that more stringent cuts will severely hamper existing services.

"In a landscape of budget cuts following a strategic approach, properly investing in mental health provision will dramatically improve the quality of life for an individual and their families and reducing the economic costs associated with mental ill-health.

"The Executive needs to start taking mental ill-health seriously and they need to commit to improving the mental health and wellbeing of our people."

Wastewater Projects Complete In L'Derry

Three major wastewater projects in Northern Ireland have been completed in L'Derry.

A total of £4.8 million has been invested in the schemes at Feeny Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW), Maghera WwTW and

Gortnahey WwTW in Limavady.

Sara Venning, CEO of NI Water said: "We at NI Water are pleased to have completed these essential wastewater schemes, and were delighted to show the minister around the Feeny site to see some of the improvements first-hand.

"Customers in the local area will benefit from the schemes, which will also accommodate future local development in the area."

Alliance Condemns Attack On Police

Alliance Justice spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has condemned an attack on police, after a crowd of people attacked PSNI officers with missiles.

Mr Dickson was speaking after the crowd in Lurgan assaulted the police with projectiles including petrol bombs and paint around 9.30pm on Friday. It followed the closure of a local railway track due to a hoax device being placed on the line.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour and criminal damage.

Mr Dickson said: "This was an appalling attack that achieved nothing except putting police officers, who are trying to protect the local community, in danger and diverting vital resources from other areas that might need them.

"There is no justification for this attack. Any act of violence against police is an assault on the rule of law and everyone in the community."

(CD)