Other News In Brief

More Must Be Done To Tackle Domestic Violence Homicides

More must be done to combat the rate of domestic violence homicides in the North, Sinn Féin MLA Michaela Boyle has said.

The West Tyrone MLA was commenting after Sinn Féin submitted a party response to a Department of Justice consultation on a proposed model for the introduction of Domestic Homicide Reviews here.

"Today Sinn Féin submitted our party's response to the consultation on Domestic Homicide reviews," Michaela Boyle said.

"Figures released from the PSNI revealed that around five people in the north are killed every year during incidents of domestic violence. However due to the under-reporting of domestic violence and abuse the actual figures are believed to be higher.

"The north of Ireland has a human rights obligation to assess the risk factors in relation to domestic violence deaths and to shape policy in this area.

"Sinn Féin believe that a robust database on all domestic violence homicides should be collated and appropriate governance mechanisms should be in place to deal with domestic violence cases.

"Many victims of domestic violence encounter barriers or gaps in service particularly victims from more vulnerable communities. A Domestic Homicide Review can identify these issues and form recommendations to address them, as well as strategies for perpetrator intervention that may have been overlooked.

"Sinn Féin believe that family involvement in the process is extremely important. Families should be given the opportunity to be integral to reviews and should be treated as a key stakeholder.

"Each Domestic Homicide Review report should focus on important facts about individual cases and should be made widely public when it is the right time to do so.

"It is vitally important that anyone suffering from abuse whether physical or emotional knows that there are organisations, including the PSNI, Women's Aid and Men's Aid who are just a phone call away and ready to help. No one should suffer in silence."

Man Sentenced To Four Months In Prison For Benefit Fraud

A 58-year-old man has been found guilty of claiming more than £20,000 in benefits he was not entitled to.

Derek Allen, of Caledon Road, Aughnacloy, was sentenced to four months in prison at Dungannon Magistrates' Court for claiming Employment Support Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £20,177 while failing to declare employment.

The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities.

He is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department.

Alliance Calls For Support Of Ambulance Service Reform Proposals

Proposed changes to the Ambulance Service should be backed as an urgent part of the health transformation programme, Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw has said.

The South Belfast MLA was speaking after the service launched a consultation on the proposed changes, which include improving how calls are handled to identify sicker patients faster, and creating more than 300 jobs, including 125 paramedics. The consultation will be open for 12 weeks.

Ms Bradshaw said: "The Ambulance Service is an integral part of the health service, linking in to primary care provision and emergency departments directly, and its systems are already behind those in use in the rest of the UK and Ireland.

"There must be absolutely no question about the value of the proposed changes, as they strengthen the Ambulance Service and match precisely the transformation agenda by ensuring at the point of access to the health service the patient immediately receives the most appropriation provision and prioritisation.

"A more efficient Ambulance Service - better equipped and staffed - will mean a more efficient health service ensuring people access the treatment they need faster. There should be no delay in action to implement the changes as appropriate after the consultation."