Other News In Brief

Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A woman has been convicted or claiming benefits she was not entitled to at L'Derry Crown Court.

Audrey McClenaghan claimed Employment and Support Allowance totalling £9,088 while failing to declare capital. She was given an 18 month conditional discharge.

She is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

Improvement Works Complete In Comber Town Centre

Improvement works in Comber town centre have been completed.

The public realm scheme was funded by the NI Executive, through the Department for Communities and Ards and North Down Borough Council.

The works included upgrading footpaths with a new natural stone paving, improved lighting provision and semi-mature tree planting throughout the town.

Communities Minister Paul Givan has also approved further funding of £150,000 for a shop frontages revitalisation scheme to support traders to improve the physical appearance of premises.

Minister Givan said: "I am delighted to see firsthand how the investment translates into the physical public realm improvements in Comber’s town centre. It has resulted in a scheme that has significantly improved the appearance and appeal of Comber town centre, and is something that will encourage people to work, visit and spend more time here.

"Urban Regeneration work taken forward by my Department clearly transforms our towns and cities and encourages renewed growth and investment. This year my Department has invested some £16million in public realm works across Northern Ireland, with a number of schemes completing during 2016 in Larne and Portstewart and others due to complete early next year in Cookstown and Magherafelt, demonstrating the Executive's support for our town centres."

Precious Life Petition 'Potentially Dishonest' - Alliance

Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said the petition presented to the Assembly on behalf of Precious Life was misleading, and potentially dishonest.

She said: "On 28 November, Jim Wells made a great fuss of presenting to the Speaker of the Assembly what he described as 'the largest ever petition received by the Northern Ireland Assembly' when he delivered what he said were 57 boxes containing 300,000 signatures calling for the protection of the unborn child.

"I have since been told by the Justice Minister that she received 47 boxes of material containing nine separate campaigns dating from 2001 to 2014. These campaigns included opposition to plans by a 'group of pro-abortion MPs' to change the law on abortion.

"The boxes also included material from a 2012 Precious Life campaign to stop Marie Stopes International opening a clinic in Northern Ireland. This is interesting, because in 2013 Precious Life presented to the Assembly what they claimed were 250,000 signatures against Marie Stopes, so it seems they have reused these signatures in this latest campaign.

"Jim Wells also stated the signatories could be verified as Northern Ireland residents because they gave their address, but the Justice Minister has identified addresses which were not in Northern Ireland.

"Considering the latest material from Precious Life is from nine campaigns covering a 14 year period, I would ask how many individuals are actually supporting these campaigns? How many people have signed for more than one campaign? How many of these signatories for one campaign realised their names would be added to other campaigns they may not support? How many are from outside Northern Ireland?"

(CD)