Other News In Brief

Finding Casement Park Contractor 'Must Be A Top Priority' – SF

Sinn Féin has said that finding a solution that gets contractors on the ground and work started to build Casement Park ahead of Euro 2028 must be a top priority.

Making the call, West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said: "Our focus is on getting contractors on the ground and getting Casement Park built now.

"Hosting Euro 2028 is an exciting prospect and the opportunity of a lifetime.

"Alongside the construction of the new Casement Park stadium in West Belfast, it will help to strengthen our local economy, create jobs, and showcase everything that makes our island and people amazing through the power of sport.

"It will also provide a significant boost to tourism and a real economic driver for West Belfast with thousands of people set to visit the city and the north to attend games.

"Now is the time to move forward to build Casement Park to ensure we will have a first-class, state-of-the-art sporting facility for Ulster Gaels, and to host major games in the Euros and big events.

"It is important that the Irish and British government work with the football associations and the GAA to get this flagship project over the line quickly and on time."

Stephen Farry To Stand For Re-Election In North Down

The Alliance Party has announced that Stephen Farry has been selected as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the revised North Down Constituency at the forthcoming General Election.

A member of Parliament for North Down since 2019, Stephen has a long history of elected politics in North Down, previously being a local Councillor between 1993 and 2011, and held the office of Mayor between 2007-08. He was also an MLA for North Down between 2007 and 2019, and served as Minister for Employment and Learning between 2011 and 2016. He is currently Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party.

He said: "It has been an absolute honour to represent the North Down constituency as MP over the past four years, building upon my previous service in other roles.

"This Parliamentary term has been a rollercoaster with Brexit, Covid, the cost-of-living crisis, and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, Plus, we have seen three different Prime Ministers.

"I have been a consistent opponent of many Government policies. In my role as representative, I have given voice to my constituents on numerous issues before Parliament.

"I have advocated for constituents on many matters, including around Covid support and cost of living schemes, and on behalf of refugees.

"Bringing new investment and extra resources into North Down in particular and across Northern Ireland more generally is a key challenge for an MP.

"My current priorities include advocating for a financial package to address Northern Ireland's budget crisis, and seeking improvements in the UK's relationship with the European Union.

"I hope to have the opportunity to continue this work, especially improving North Down and building a shared and prosperous Northern Ireland.

"North Down is an increasing diverse constituency. It has always been a moderate and tolerant place in the overall context of Northern Ireland. Today, it is clearly a progressive constituency.

"Alliance has grown significantly in North Down over recent years, with a strong local team. We are now the largest party in terms of vote share and representation.

"I believe that Alliance, as a cross community party, and in particular the stances I have taken, offer an electoral choice that is very much in tune with the values of North Down."

DUP Condemn Those Responsible For Pro-IRA Graffiti In Enniskillen

The DUP has condemned those responsible for spraying IRA graffiti on the wall of the Clinton Centre, close to the Enniskillen Bomb Memorial.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Deborah Erskine said: "This is a wholly despicable act. Those responsible should be utterly ashamed for trying to whip up public tensions. The IRA was a terrorist organisation who killed and murdered scores of people. They do not deserve any public show of support.

"This is also criminal damage to a property. I have reported this incident to the Police and I hope those responsible are caught. They must pay for this act.

"No doubt this incident will upset Enniskillen Bomb families. This graffiti is very close to the memorial that Enniskillen Bomb families placed in remembrance of their loved ones. A few short weeks ago I joined with those families in a dignified remembrance event on the 8th November. The respect of those families is in sharp contrast to those that carried out this disgusting graffiti incident, in such a public way."

Enniskillen DUP Councillor, Keith Elliott added: "I am shocked to see this graffiti on a public building, which is close to a memorial to 12 innocent people killed by the IRA. There was no justification for IRA terrorism in Enniskillen or anywhere else.

"Causing hurt to the good people of Enniskillen is shameful. We will not allow anyone to drag us back to dark days.

"I ask anyone to come forward with information they may have on this incident to the PSNI."