Other News In Brief

New Sculpture To Mark Community Strength Unveiled

A new seven-metre-tall public sculpture has been unveiled on Springfield Road in Belfast.

Carry Each Other was sculpted by local visual artist Sara Cunningham-Bell as part of the EU PEACE IV-funded Forth Meadow Community Greenway.

It aims to reflect the strength of community in Belfast and the importance of supporting each other. It features an adult carrying a child on its shoulders, with the child in turn carrying a bird to represent vision and future plans.

Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Ryan Murphy said: "Carry Each Other is inspired by the community's hope for the future. It is the signature piece of the Forth Meadow Community Greenway art project, which also saw five smaller pieces of floor art installed along the route of the greenway.

"In the development phase of the project, the artist engaged with almost 270 primary school children from eight schools, young children from Sure Start and Early Years, community groups from Bog Meadows and local walking groups. Fittingly, a selection of the children's designs are incorporated in the patterns in the final sculpture and the content of the floor art.

"Carry Each Other is sure to become an iconic landmark for local people and visitors to the area who come to use the new greenway."

Belfast City Council is delivering the £5.1 million Forth Meadow Community Greenway project, with funding provided by the EU's PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), the Department for Communities and the Department for Infrastructure. The Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland have provided support for the PEACE IV element of the project.

Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) said: "We are delighted to see all of the 'Carry Each Other' art pieces brought to life along the greenway, not least this unmissable 7m tall signature sculpture by talented artist Sara Cunningham-Bell. The artwork has been developed as part of the £5.1 million PEACE IV Forth Meadow Community Greenway which connects opens spaces in north and west Belfast, and speaks to the sense of, and strength of, community in this city."

Artist Sara Cunningham-Bell said: "Engaging with the local community and in particular young people from neighbouring areas, helped inspire the final sculpture. It is a large person carrying another person and was designed so that people can walk through it, as well as around it. It represents how, if we carry each other through strengths and weaknesses, we are stronger."

Latest PSNI Data Breach 'Incredulous'

The SDLP has said that the latest in a series of PSNI data breaches as "incredulous". The police service confirmed that a fourth data breach in just over a week has occurred involving a senior police officer working in a highly sensitive area.

Policing Board member and Foyle MLA, Mark H Durkan said: "This latest incident beggars belief. The PSNI cannot just say a police laptop and notebook fell from a moving vehicle on a motorway and leave it at that. There is an urgent obligation on the PSNI to explain the full circumstances of this incident. The failure to do in the first instance is not good enough. This does not help confidence or offer reassurance at an already very difficult time.

"That a police notebook has not been fully recovered - a police officer’s personal record of contact with the public in different circumstances - is a further huge concern.

"I have separately written to the Chief Constable and am tabling a question for next week’s Board meeting in order to determine all losses of police mobiles, laptops and computers in each of the last three years, what risks arise and the actions taken."

Appeal For Information On Ardglass Stabbing Incident

PSNI detectives have issued an appeal for information following a report of a stabbing incident in the early hours of Sunday 20th August in Ardglass,

At around 2:40am it was reported that a man in his 20s had been stabbed in the Tullyronan area. It is believed that two men were involved in a verbal altercation inside a licenced premises in the town earlier in the evening. The men are believed to have left the premises and during a fight involving the two men, one of the men aged in his 20s received a number of stab wounds to his body. The man was taken to hospital for his injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.

A 24 year old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in police custody at this time.

Detective Inspector Ryan said: "Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the altercations or who have any information, to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference number 259 20/08/23. A report can be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at *www.crimestoppers-uk.org."