Other News In Brief

Scamwise Renew Warning Over Belfast Builder Scam

Scamwiseni have renewed their call for vigilance regarding unsolicited correspondence after a suspected attempt to defraud a woman in Belfast.

The target received an email purporting to be from a builder she was using with new bank account details and a request for payment.

The woman was suspicious and contacted her builder who confirmed no such email had been sent.

A spokesperson for Scamwiseni said: "The email address it was sent from was very similar to his authentic one and could have been easily mistaken as legitimate.

"We've had numerous reports very similar to this in the last number of weeks. Individuals and businesses are both being targeted and amounts from a few hundred pounds to hundreds of thousands have been lost. Investigations have shown that the bank account details refer to overseas accounts and so it is highly unlikely that the money can be claimed back."

Tributes Paid To Acclaimed Belfast Artist Micky Donnelly

Tributes have been paid following the death of acclaimed local artist Micky Donnelly.

A graduate of both Queen's University and the University of Ulster, Micky was awarded an Arts Council NI Scholarship to the British School at Rome in 1985, an event acknowledged as a turning point in his career.

He adopted the influence of Italian Renaissance art to his work, shown in the 'Belfast Series' of the 1990s, with its street references and allusions to Belfast murals showing the influence of Italian fresco painting.

Micky Donnelly's contribution to the arts was acknowledged in 1996 when he was elected a member of Aosdána, one of the most prestigious positions in Irish arts. He exhibited nationally and internationally and his work is included in public and private collections throughout the world, including the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Ulster Museum, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Collection, and the European Parliament.

Suzanne Lyle, Head of Visual Arts at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, paid him tribute: "Micky Donnelly was a key figure in the development of the contemporary visual arts scene here in the 1980s and 1990s, and one of the major artists responsible for putting Northern Ireland's visual arts on the international map. The body of work he leaves behind will ensure his lasting place amongst the front rank of Northern Irish painters."

Funding Boost For £20m Newry Regeneration Scheme

A £20 million scheme which will see Newry city centre transformed through a host of new developments has been boosted with further funding.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has secured an additional £8 million from the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) to support the project,

This funding will go towards extra public realm works to complement the Council's existing investment plans for a new Civic Hub and Theatre/Conference facilities. It will also help bring forward the provision of additional Grade A office accommodation within the city core.

The Council's Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey said: "Investing within the historic core of Newry, our aim is to increase vibrancy and footfall in the city centre, stimulate further investment, and facilitate the regeneration of Newry City for the benefit of the entire district.

"The Theatre/Conference and Civic Hub facilities will form the foundation of the regeneration investment, with the additional BRCD funding creating new public realm links that will make Newry less car dependant and more sustainable for future generations."

Design teams will now work to develop the projects, with engagement and consultation scheduled with a full range of stakeholders over the coming months.



(JG/CM)