Other News In Brief

Sinn Féin Urge Mothers Held In Mother And Baby Homes To Contact Police

Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has called for any mothers who gave birth in Mother and Baby Homes to get in contact with the police. 

The Mid-Ulster MLA said: "The police are currently working with the Australian Federal Police to locate adults in Australia who may have been victims of the Mother and Baby Homes in Ireland.

"Hundreds of children were taken from their mothers and sold to families in Australia, and across the world.

"This is an opportunity to reunite mothers and their children who have been robbed of knowing each other for decades.

"This won't right the wrongs of the past but it is a huge step forward for victims and survivors and is an opportunity many mothers thought they would never have."

'Life-Saving' A5 Works Cannot Face Further Delay – SDLP

The SDLP has said that the "life-saving" upgrade works on the A5 road cannot face further delay.

West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan was speaking after the launch of the 'Enough is Enough' campaign group on Monday night.

An SDLP delegation attended the event, where speakers included relatives of those who had lost their lives on the road.

West Tyrone MLA Mr McCrossan said: "Since becoming an MLA I have relentlessly campaigned for this vital upgrading work to be carried out on the A5 road and it has been a sense of deep frustration for both myself and people locally that we are still fighting all these years on. Those who have opposed this project have caused considerable damage and I would ask them to come forward and meet those affected so they can understand the need for this project.

"I welcome the launch of the Enough is Enough campaign and applaud their efforts in bringing people together to highlight just how important this issue is. In the coming weeks and months I will be meeting with a variety of stakeholders, including church and business leaders to ask them to lend their support to our efforts to see this project completed.

"It has been heartbreaking listening to those who have lost loved ones on this road and the impact it has had on their lives. I have attended far too many funerals and seen families and communities left broken as a result of lives cut short. It is completely unacceptable that people are expected to risk their lives on this road every day and I'm glad that we have come together to speak as one voice and send a clear message that we want this work carried out immediately."

SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone said: "After attending the Enough is Enough launch on Monday night it was clear to see the strength of feeling that exists around this vital road upgrade. The human cost of the delays to this project were laid bare in the moving testimonies of those who lost loved ones killed on the A5. There was also real positivity that coming together and community action would bring real momentum to the campaign to see this work carried out.

"This work will not only benefit people locally, it will make a difference to the lives of people on both sides of the border and those from right across the North who travel this road regularly for a variety of reasons. The SDLP has long been calling for this work to be carried out and we will stand firmly behind the campaign until this life-saving project is delivered."

Alliance Concerned North Down GP Surgeries Taken Over By Trust

Alliance North Down representatives have expressed concern following news two GP surgeries are to be taken over by the South Eastern Health Trust after the resignations of GP partners at both practices.

The Priory and Springhill GP Practice, which operates from two sites in Holywood and Bangor, was scheduled to shut early this year unless new doctors were found to run them by 01 February. But following the failure of negotiations, the Trust will now run them on a temporary basis.

Describing it as "concerning news", North Down MP Stephen Farry said: "In light of today's news, we have learnt discussions with the potential contractor had collapsed at the end of last week. With time running out and seemingly no other options in the short term, we wrote to the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Health and the Trust Chief Executive regarding the Trust directly assuming the management of the surgeries.

"We are hopeful this is just a temporary solution and discussions to secure a longer-term replacement contractor will continue as a matter of urgency. We have ongoing concerns around the level of coverage and service that will be offered as a result, and will be seeking further reassurances around this from the Trust."