Other News In Brief

Man Arrested Following Serious Assault In South Belfast

A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a serious assault in the Castle Place area of south Belfast.

Police received a report shortly after 2am on Thursday morning, 30th March that two men had been assaulted in the area.

One man, aged in his 20s, sustained an injury to his eye and another man, aged in his 30s, had suffered a suspected head injury.

He was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries and remains in a serious condition at this time.

A 36-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences. He remains in custody at this time, assisting detectives with enquiries.

Our enquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information, including dash-cam or other footage that could help our investigation, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 117 of 30/03/23.

Alternatively, you can submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/.

SDLP Slams Decision To End Education Support Programme

SDLP Education Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan MLA has slammed a decision by the Department of Education to give school leaders a single day’s notice of their intention to end important education support programmes across Northern Ireland.

Principals were informed this morning that funding for the Healthy Happy Minds Pilot and the Engage programme would cease from tomorrow (31st March). Education Spokespeople have also been informed that School Holiday Food Grants will cease from tomorrow ahead of the Easter break.

Daniel McCrossan said: "The decision to scrap these schemes is absolutely outrageous. To do so with a single day’s notice to principals, staff and the parents that rely on them is totally unforgivable.

"I understand the challenging financial position that the Department of Education is in but what about the financial situation facing thousands of families?

"Cutting holiday hunger payments right before the Easter break will be devastating for low income families across the North. Ending Healthy Happy Minds and the Engage programme will leave kids that need a bit more support in a terrible situation, not to mention the staff that rely on this funding.

"There are serious questions about the way the Department has approached this issue but the significant cuts to education budgets come from the British Government and local politicians have been paralysed by the political strategy adopted by the DUP.

"These are the real world consequences of a failing political system. We all have to resist this and we have to dedicate ourselves to building a better kind of society that allocates resources to our children to ensure they have the best possible start in life."

Failure To Replace EU Funding Will Cost Essential Services And Jobs – SF

Brexit and the British government's failure to fully replace lost European funding will cause the loss of essential services and jobs, Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has said.

The former Finance Minister said: "Cuts to vital community projects and services are a direct result of Brexit and the loss of millions of pounds of European funding.

"The British government promised to fully replace that funding. They have broken that promise to the many vulnerable and disadvantaged people that these services protect.

"The British government was well aware of the devastating consequences of the loss of this European funding and I am deeply frustrated that they have refused to resolve this problem.

"Time is now running out for these important services and for the dedicated workers who will lose their jobs. This funding should be fully replaced today. Communities can’t wait."