Other News In Brief

Man Arrested After Police Officer Attacked In Tyrone

A man has been arrested after a police officer was injured after being kicked in the head and head butted in Co Tyrone.

The incident occurred while the officer responded to a report of an attack on Monday in the Dromore area.

Inspector Hicks said: “The 33-year-old male suspect left the premises and was later located by police in the Fairview Gardens area of Dromore.“While being arrested on suspicion of common assault, the male began shouting and lashed out an officer, breaking his radio mic.“He continued to be aggressive and kicked the officer twice in the head and also head-butted and spat at him and further attempted to head-butt another officer.“The police officer was taken to hospital for treatment.

"We have arrested the male on suspicion of a number of offences, including, common assault, assault on police, resisting police and disorderly behaviour.“He remains in custody at this time, assisting with police enquiries."

Call For UK Govt And EU To Renegotiate To Address Still Tariff Issue

Alliance MP Stephen Farry has called on the UK Government and EU to renegotiate a specific and enhanced tariff rate quota to cover UK steel movements into Northern Ireland and the EU.

It comes on the back of the EU changing some rules on steel imports in light of Russian aggression against Ukraine and the loss of the specific UK Tariff Rate Quota. The Alliance Deputy Leader said there was a need for trust and good faith between the parties as a key ingredient in reaching a solution.

"The imposition of the 25 per cent tariff is clearly a problem for local manufacturers who depend on steel imports from Great Britain. It brings more costs and uncertainty on top of the pain from the energy crisis,” said the North Down MP.

"However, it is also an issue for Irish companies who source their steel via a UK supply chain, which negates a simplistic analysis this is solely a consequence of the Protocol. This is yet another consequence of Brexit.

"The problem lies in the intersection between the Protocol and a weak UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement, in which the UK Government did not adequately foresee this and ensure it was addressed. The specific complication arises from the EU treating steel imports under a trade defence measure and the removal of the UK-specific Tariff Rate Quota. "This problem needs to be addressed. But it is not going to sorted through further UK confrontation with the EU. Indeed, the terms of the current Protocol Bill can’t directly solve this. 

"The UK Government and the EU Commission need to negotiate a fresh, specific tariff rate quota for movements from GB into Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the EU, and in the longer-term fix the Trade and Co-operation Agreement."

Teens Assaulted In Bangor Being Treated As A Hate Crime

An assault on two teenagers in Bangor is being treated as racially-motivated, according to the police.

The incident happened on Fridayin Castle Park around 5.30pm.

The teenage boy and girl had been attacked with a weapon whilst in the park by a man who made off in the direction of Castle Park Road.

Both teenagers were taken to hospital for treatment after sustaining head injuries. Both were subsequently discharged after treatment.

Chief Inspector David Gray said: "We are treating this as a racially-motivated attack, which was completely unprovoked.

"Hate crime has no place in society. It should be rejected and reviled by everyone. But to target two children in this way is particularly abhorrent.

"I would appeal to the public to contact us with any information that may help with our investigation."

The suspect is described as a man wearing a dark/navy hooded top with a lighter coloured hood and dusty work trousers, and carrying a plastic bag.

Anyone with any information about the man is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1488 26/08/22.”