Other News In Brief

Two Charged Over Lisburn Armed Robbery

Two men, aged in their 30s, have been charged in connection with an armed robbery in Lisburn.

The incident happened at a shop in the Milltown Avenue area on Saturday, 23 September.

They made off in a silver vehicle.

The pair have been charged with a number of offences and are to appear in court on Monday, 25 September.

Public Urged To Reduce, Reuse And Recycle

The public is being urged to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan made the call to mark the nation 'Recycle Week'.

He said: "There are many practical steps we can take to play our part in reducing our carbon output and help to reduce any detrimental impact on our environment.

"The focus of this year's campaign is recycling food waste.

"Food waste makes up a significant proportion of the household waste we throw out each week.

"Over 70 percent of food waste dumped in landfills coming from households, if an effort was made to recycle this food waste it would greatly contribute to improving the environment, supporting the economy and creating jobs in the North."

Call for Universal Credit to Be Scrapped

SDLP Deputy Leader Nichola Mallon MLA has called for the roll out of Universal Credit to be scrapped in Northern Ireland following the evidence of mounting poverty and homelessness in England, Scotland and Wales.

She said: "Universal Credit has been an unmitigated disaster. The experience of the new welfare rules in England, Scotland and Wales has been characterised by more families in poverty, greater reliance on foodbanks and a marked increase in homelessness. Why would we seek to replicate that broken system here?

"The one size fits all approach to Universal Credit roll out will only make particular challenges in the North more acute. My office deals daily with people at breaking point because they can’t get a house or because they need access to a foodbank to support their family. These proposals will accelerate the crisis that many hard pressed families find themselves in.

"In the absence of an Executive, and pending the end of the welfare mitigation package in 2020, this cannot go ahead. We cannot leave people here at the mercy of a system designed by British Government bean counters with no concern for the individuals and families their policies will devastate."

(CD/MH)