Other News In Brief

Proceed Of Crimes Forfeited To The PSNI

Belfast Magistrates' Court has awarded the forfeiture of £16,100 in favour of the PSNI as a result of a Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF) proceeds of crime investigation.

The money was seized by PCTF officers following the search of a caravan in Millisle on 22nd October 2019, as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected criminality of West Belfast UDA.

Detective Inspector Corrigan said: "The amount of cash forfeited shows the PCTF’s ongoing commitment to pursuing proceeds of crime generated from the criminal activities of paramilitary groups."

The Paramilitary Crime Task Force is a multi-agency task force set up in Northern Ireland to protect communities by tackling all forms of criminality linked to paramilitarism. It consists of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the National Crime Agency and HM Revenue & Customs.

Leading Group Andras Hotels Has Cut The Ribbon On Its First Hotel Outside Of Belfast

An event was held to mark the official opening of the Riverside Hotel Coleraine, delivered by Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Ivor Wallace.

The hotel, which is located at the Riverside Retail Park in Coleraine, was acquired by the hotel group at the start of the year and has undergone a refurbishment and rebrand as the Riverside Hotel.

Director of Andras Hotels, Rajesh Rana, said: "It is great to be opening a hotel in Causeway Coast and Glens area after such a long period of being solely Belfast-based. This opening marks the start of a major investment by our company in the north coast, which is the epicentre of tourism in Northern Ireland."

The Northern Ireland hotel group is moving forward with new developments, with work taking place on site for the refurbishment of the former Northern Bank on Main Street in Portrush. When complete, this £2.5 million development will provide six luxury serviced apartments, with a café bar in the former banking hall, and is expected to open in September.

Speaking about the company's growth plans, Mr Rana continued: "This summer we will begin work on a new hotel at the L'Derry Arms site, also at Main Street in Portrush. This project will provide modern 4-star tourism accommodation in the heart of Portrush and will bring international visitors to visit and stay in the town. Our economists have projected the hotel will contribute £1.6 million to the local economy every year and add £1.1 million tourism spend locally. This hotel will open its doors in January 2025 in order to be up and running in time for The Open championship that summer.

"We are fully committed to growing the base of tourism accommodation in the north coast and investing in the area. There is such great potential in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, and we are excited and honoured to be able to contribute to the growth of the area."

Education Funding Cuts 'Devastating' – Alliance

Alliance Education spokesperson Connie Egan MLA has said that the loss of additional funding for disadvantaged pupils is "devastating".

The Department of Education has contacted schools to say that the funding which provided 500 schools additional funding to support counselling, after schools and homework clubs has now been cut due to the Department having to make savings.

The North Down MLA said: "It is absolutely devastating to see that yet again, it is the most vulnerable children in our society that are bearing the brunt of the Department of Educations cuts.

"However, the financial position that they've been placed in is of a direct consequence of having no Executive or local Education Minister to support our schools. A restored Executive would not solve every problem within our education system, but without the institutions back up and running, no progress at all can be made in dealing with the endless list of cuts being made across our education system.

"It is unacceptable that it is our most vulnerable children and young people experiencing the brunt of the financial situation. This will undoubtedly have a significantly negative impact on their lives, as well as the morale of the staff who may have to pick up the pieces.

"It's time for the DUP to accept our children deserve better, end their deadlock and get back to Stormont to get an Education Minister into office to deal with it."