Other News In Brief

Concerns Raised Over Shankill Bombing

Concerns have been raised after reports that the RUC was given secret intelligence that could have prevented the Shankill bombing, but failed to act on it.

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood said the information raises serious questions for all involved.

Mr Eastwood said: "These events show that the RUC placed more importance on protecting the lives of their IRA and UDA collaborators than those of innocent people. Even the suggestion in today's newspaper report that UDA leader Johnny Adair and his criminal cohorts could have been tipped off by British forces acting on intelligence supplied by an IRA mole is truly staggering.

"Provisional republicans, who have known about some of these allegations since 2002, seem to have forgotten innocent lives were sacrificed as part of this macabre trail of events. Their priority was to identify and quietly retire someone in their ranks they knew was a British agent, instead of informing the victim's families.

"The Fresh Start Agreement has seen victims once again let down in their search for justice. These events show that agencies and organisations who have most to lose from the truth coming out are the same people who are blocking it happening."

Road Improvement Project In North Belfast To Begin

A road improvement scheme in north Belfast is to start this Saturday, 30 January.

The scheme is between Mount Vernon and Donegall Park Avenue on the Shore Road.

Funded by the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) the project will strengthen road structure and improve the carriageway surface.

Transport Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced that a Northern Ireland

The first phase is scheduled from at 4pm on Saturday 30 January to 6am Monday 1 February. This will involve overnight closures for drainage work and other carriageway preparation.

The second phase, from Monday 1 February to Friday 5 February will require lane closures for carriageway work outside the clearway hours.

The final phase is expected to take place on Saturday 6 February and Sunday 7 February. This will require daily closures of that section of the road to facilitate the final surfacing between 7am and 8pm each day.

Diversions will be put in place.

Discrimination Against Former Political Prisoners Must End - SF

Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann has said all forms of discrimination against former political prisoners must end.

Speaking after attending the High Court to support west Belfast man Martin Neeson and his family, Ms McCann said: "The sacking of Martin Neeson after 18 years of service in post because he was a former political prisoner is totally unacceptable.

"I have known Martin for many years and have always found him to be hard working, responsible and a respected member of the local community.

"His dismissal blatantly breaches the spirit of the peace process and the equality commitments made in the Good Friday and all subsequent agreements.

"In these agreements special mention is made of the contribution made by former political prisoners to supporting and maintaining the peace.

"Their contribution is widely recognised yet discrimination against former political prisoners is widespread particularly in the area of employment. This is unfair and unjust.

"The recent Fresh Start Agreement itself refers to the importance of reintegration of political ex-prisoners by addressing the various barriers to employment outlined in a Review Panel Report.

"Martin Neeson and all former political prisoners are being criminalised and denied full membership of society.

"Former political prisoners are entitled to be treated with respect as full and equal members of society."

(CD)