Other News In Brief

Belfast Man Bitten By Shark Off Coast Of Co Cork

A Belfast man has suffered a shark bite while fishing off the coast of Co Cork.

According to reports the man was deep sea fishing some eight miles offshore from Crosshaven. It is understood he was one of a number of men fishing for sharks from the vessel. The man had made catch and was in the process of de-hooking the shark when he was bitten. He suffered a serious lower arm injury.

The fishing boats crew gave the man immediate medical attention until the Crosshaven RNLI volunteers arrived and transferred the man to Cork University Hospital.

Crosshaven RNLI said that it was the first incident of a shark bite that they have had to deal with and said that the shark was "nowhere near angling or swimming water levels".

£300,000 Road Repairs Project To Start In Newtownabbey

Work is to begin on a £300,000 road repairs project in Newtownabbey.

Around 800 metres of carriageway will be resurfaced on the Antrim Road, while iron work will be replaced between Bellevue Bridge and Church Way.

Overnight road closures will be in place between 7pm – 6am from 10 September until 15 September, while daily lane closures will be in place between 9.30am and 4.30pm from 10 September until 21 September.

In addition, a full road closure will be required between 6am – 8pm on Sunday, 23 September and Sunday, 30 September to allow final resurfacing to be completed. Diversions will be in place.

Work is scheduled to be completed by early October, subject to weather conditions.

Warning Signs Over NI Water Must Be Heeded - Alliance

Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Kellie Armstrong has said the warning signs have been there, when it comes to the unfolding problems with how NI Water is funded.

She said the latest report from NI Water only goes to prove that development in Northern Ireland is close to grinding to a halt due to the instability of the NI Water funding structure.

She added: "When it comes to infrastructure in Northern Ireland, far too often it is the grand, slim chance of ever happening ideas which tend to grab the headlines. But rather than talking about the potential of bridges to Scotland, we must refocus on the immediate threat facing NI Water and the potential impact this could have.

"Without any strategic investment in our infrastructure, such as water and sewage, we will see potential new homes cease to be built and no new options for business premises come forward.

"And this isn't just scaremongering, as we have already seen the impact of this in Saintfield where new homes could not be built as the strain on its sewage system was deemed to be too great."

(CD)