Other News In Brief

SDLP Call On Infrastructure Minister To Fund City Nightbus Service

The SDLP has called on the Infrastructure Minister, John O'Dowd, to fund a nightbus service for Belfast.

The party's Belfast City Council Group Leader, councillor Séamas de Faoite, has written to the Minister asking him to provide the necessary £150,000 funding to run late night services on the Metro Bus routes at the weekend.

Minister O'Dowd responded that "the provision and operation of services is an operational matter for Translink".

Councillor de Faoite said: "The SDLP has long been campaigning for year-round nightbus services for Belfast and despite acknowledgement of the many benefits this would have, including from the Minister himself, we are still no further on, outside of a limited Christmas service which itself has come under repeated threat in recent years.

"Regular nightbus services would have many benefits for the local economy, allowing people to spend more time in our shops, restaurants and bars which have endured a difficult few years. It would also have help people to get home safely after socialising or working a late shift, something that has become a growing issue with the decline in the number of taxi drivers operating in the city. The reality is that more and more people are choosing to simply stay at home due to the lack of transport options.

"Translink have identified that running nightbus services on weekends would cost around £150,000 yearly, a sum that would be repaid many times over when considering the additional spending and other issues that these services would help to address. Rather than constructively respond to the proposal Minister O'Dowd has dismissed it out of hand as a matter for Translink. This simply isn't good enough, Translink's budget has been repeatedly stretched in recent years and I would implore the Minister to find the funding within his department to provide these services. We cannot continue to discuss the problems around our nighttime economy and public transport options then refusing opportunities to address it when they arise."

Police Appeal For Information On Aggravated Burglary In Carrickfergus

PSNI detectives investigating a report of an aggravated burglary in Carrickfergus on the evening of Tuesday, 5th March, have issued an appeal for information and witnesses.

A police spokesperson said: "Police received a report shortly after 8pm that two masked men, who were dressed all in black and armed with a knife and pistol-type gun, entered a property in the Macroom Gardens area of the town.

"The suspects demanded money and threatened a man, aged in his 40s, who was inside the property at the time.

"One of the masked men then punched the occupant on his lip and both suspects fled the scene on foot, possibly in the direction of Love Lane.

"Our investigation is now underway to establish what happened, who was involved and a motive.

"We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time, and saw anything suspicious to call police on 101, quoting reference number 1753 05/03/24. We are also keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of Prince Andrew Way between 7.45pm and 8.20pm who may have dash-cam footage."

Alternatively, you can submit a report 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 Accuse Muir Of 'Media Slight Of Hand' Over XL Bully Ban

The Green Party has accused Alliance Party DAERA minister, Andrew Muir, of "engaging in media slight of hand" over his newly announced XL bully ban.

Following the announced by the Minister of new 'XL bully safety measures', Green Party Cllr for Holywood and Clandeboye, Lauren Kendall, said: "The Alliance Party minister seems to be engaging in media slight of hand this afternoon, making an announcement about an effective ban on XL bullies whilst not wanting to say it out loud.

"An XL bully ban does nothing to address the wider problems with unregulated breeding in Northern Ireland, nor the cruel conditions whereby dogs are bred and sold for profit without a care for animal welfare.

"The Dangerous Dogs Act has done nothing to reduce dog-related incidents and attacks, and I have serious concerns that this ill-thought-out proposal will only serve to put more pressure on stretched council resources and animal welfare charities, who are at breaking point.

"The Green Party is calling for an evidence-based approach to reducing dog attacks and better regulation of dog breeding, including clear measures to ensure the end of puppy farms.

"Most dog owners in Northern Ireland are dog lovers, a revised Act which includes improved specific regulations on dog control, particularly in public spaces, and greater regulation of dog breeding establishments and sales, will not impact the majority of dog owners but would begin to tackle the problem at source.

"The minister is letting unscrupulous dog breeders off the hook, blaming puppies instead of profiteers, with his nonsensical campaign against the XL bully breed. More bans will not deliver the urgent change needed to animal welfare and breeding in Northern Ireland."