Other News In Brief

Two Men Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

Two men have been convicted for claiming benefits they were not entitled to at Belfast Magistrates' Court.

Scott Crothers claimed Jobseekers' Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £4,114 while failing to declare employment. He was given 80 hours community service.

Rhys Morris claimed Jobseekers' Allowance totalling £231 while failing to declare employment. He was given a £100 fine plus £15 offender’s levy.

They are also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

Sinn Féin Calls For A2 Redevelopment To Be Brought Forward

The A2 redevelopment in L'Derry needs to be taken forward, according to Sinn Féin.

MP Elisha McCallion said the proposed A2 Buncrana Road upgrade would see a four-lane road from the Pennyburn roundabout to the border.

She said: "This would open up improved access to strategic sites in the city such as the Science Park at Fort George, and extending into the north west gateway development sites on the Buncrana Road.

"Already we have had significant movement on the A6 and progress on the A5 and we now need the A2 redevelopment to be taken forward as well.

"For this to happen we need to see the Department of Infrastructure taking this on and recognising the huge economic benefit it could bring to this city and allocating resources and investment into its redevelopment."

Call For Review Of How Criminal Law Operates

Alliance MLA David Ford has written to party leaders asking them to join him in calling for a review of how criminal law operates in light of the recent high-profile rape trial here.

Mr Ford said the trial at Belfast Crown Court highlighted a number of issues of concern regarding the application of the law on rape and other serious sexual crimes, showing there are widely different views on the lessons to be learned from it.

"The trial and focus around it highlighted several issues, including the investigation and prosecution processes, the provision of anonymity for defendants, having an open public gallery, the use of social media from the courtroom and procedures for cross-questioning witnesses by several defence counsel.

"The question is now how to best provide proper protection for the interests of both defendants and complainants. While the issues in each criminal case will be different, the intense publicity given to this recent case has demonstrated the need for a review of how the criminal law operates in this difficult area.

"In the absence of a Minister of Justice, there is a case for a multi-party approach to the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Justice requesting him to initiate such a review, taking into account the views of non-governmental organisations and building on the work being done by the judiciary."

(CD/MH)