Other News In Brief

Appeal For Information On 'Altercation' In Dungiven Area

The PSNI have issued an appeal for information following a report Of an altercation between a man and a woman in the Dungiven area on the night of Saturday 6th January.

It was reported that a man, described as being aged in his 50s, wearing a hat and body warmer, and a woman, aged in her teens or early 20s, with glasses and dressed in dark clothing, were involved in an altercation on the Ballyquin Road between Dungiven and Limavady at around 8.45pm.

The man and woman then got into a dark coloured small van, possibly a Volkswagen Caddy or Citroen Berlingo, and drove off in the direction of Limavady. The van may have had a partial registration of VUI.

Police are keen to speak to either of the people involved, or anyone who was in the Ballyquin Road area between 8.30pm and 9.30pm last night. Officers are also interested in any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage from the area between these times. You can contact Police on 101 quoting reference of 1546 06/01/24.

A report can also be submitted online using the 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/.

Greens Slam DUP/SF Attempt To Overturn Solas Funding Award

The Green Party has criticised the DUP and Sinn Féin over their attempted to overturn a decision to award £800,000 to Sólás, a charity based in South Belfast that supports children and young people with special needs, under the Neighbourhood Regeneration Funding scheme.

Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Áine Groogan, said: "The proposal from Sinn Féin/DUP to strip over £775,000 from Sólás is utterly reprehensible and is one of the worst carve-ups I have seen in City Hall, which is really saying something. This is a neighbourhood regeneration fund, and from the outset it was said that the Area Working Groups would, rightly, choose the projects for their areas. Sinn Féin/DUP don't like that they don't control South Belfast and they're taking that frustration out on a charity that works with some of the most vulnerable young people in our society. The majority of South Belfast Councillors made a decision based on their priorities for the area, and it is the height of disrespect that SF/DUP have sought to deny our mandate in the area.

"We knew the funding available was limited, and that difficult decisions were going to have to be made. Every one of the projects put forward for South Belfast are great projects that deserve to be supported, but we simply couldn't fund them all fully. We wanted to support Sólás given the extreme need that they have, and then divide the remaining money equally between the other worthwhile projects so we could assist them all getting off the ground. Sólás' current facilities are not fit-for-purpose, they are working out of portacabins and hiring other facilities. They desperately need a purpose-built facility to help them continue to do the incredible work that they do with children and young people with autism and other additional needs and supporting their families. We all know the crisis that people with autism and special educational needs are facing, the waiting lists for a diagnosis, the difficulties getting statemented and the availability of appropriate supports. A charity like Sólás is a lifeline for so many families and this was an opportunity for Belfast City Council to recognise that & help support them in getting a proper building to continue their work. Instead, Sinn Féin/DUP have insulted them by saying it's only worthy of £24,000. They need to get their priorities straight.

"I will be proposing at Monday night's Council meeting, along with councillors from across other political parties, that we reject the decision of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to overturn the will of the South Belfast Area Working Group. SF/DUP need to examine their conscience and do the right thing on Monday night to support Sólás and the children and young people with additional needs that they work with."

SF Reiterates Support For Interstate Case Against Legacy Act

Sinn Féin MP John Finucane has reiterated his party's support for the Irish Government's decision to take an interstate case against the British government's Legacy Act.

The North Belfast MP said: "The British Tory government rushed through this legislation despite the clear opposition and concerns raised by victims and families, all political parties on the island of Ireland, the Irish Government, the US, UN, the Council of Europe and human rights experts.

"This cruel and shameful Act is a flagrant breach of international human rights law and is a blatant attempt to shut the door on families' efforts to achieve truth and justice through the courts.

"The British government's aim was not to act in the interests of victims and families, rather in the interests of British state forces involved in the murder of, and serious human rights violations against, Irish citizens.

"Heartbroken families have been fighting for years, determined to get truth and justice for their loved ones. They should not have been forced to take individual legal actions against this Act, and this action by the government will now complement these challenges.

"We will stand with those families as they challenge this cruel and cynical law, and as they continue to campaign with dignity and determination for truth and justice."