Other News In Brief

DUP Hit Out At TUV For Attempts To 'Reduce Unionist Representation At Westminster'

The DUP's East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has condemned the TUV for what he said are attempts to brand the DUP as "not real unionists".

Mr Wilson has said that the TUV and UK political party Reform, are attempting to reduce unionist representation at Westminster and "potentially handing seats to the Alliance Party and giving Sinn Fein the propaganda of being the largest party after the next election".

Mr Wilson continued: "It is ironic that this allegation comes from an Englishman who voted for the Northern Ireland Protocol in the European Parliament and who has made no attempt to hide the fact that he believes the intervention of his party will cost unionism seats.

"The TUV know full well that seats will not be won by another unionist, but will go to parties who oppose the Union and ironically, support the rigorous implementation of the Protocol and the Windsor Framework.

"Even some of the TUV representatives, such as David Clarke, seem to be so consumed with their personal bitterness against the DUP that they have openly declared that they would vote for the Alliance Party to see the DUP defeated.

"I have honestly expressed my concerns and views on the issues in relation to the continued existence of border restrictions on the Irish Sea and the affront to democracy and the Union of having EU law imposed without consent on Northern Ireland. I will continue to raise those concerns but regardless of that the DUP is more committed to the Union than those who would wilfully, deliberately and damagingly weaken Unionist representation at Westminster by splitting the vote in seats that on all previous evidence they know they have no chance of winning.

"Even the least aware unionist will know that you don’t improve the Unionist position by taking one step backward i.e. depriving more unionists of real representation in Parliament in the hope that sometime in the future this may enable you to take two steps forward. What an absurd and self destructive plan.

"Sinn Fein will be cheering and will use the propaganda which these short sighted scorched-earth policies will result in. The new political arrangement has been described as the TUV/Reform Alliance. The only winner will be the Alliance Party.

"I would remind Ben Habib and Richard Tice that many of us in the DUP have been unionist representatives when it was dangerous to be so. Our unionist principles have not diminished in anyway and we certainly would never countenance, giving the enemies of unionism one extra vote or one extra seat.

"I am pleased that it is already becoming clear that Unionists throughout Northern Ireland are wise to the nonsense being peddled by those whose only purpose is to divide and wreck."

Three Men Charged In Connection With Aggravated Burglary In December 2023

Three men has been charged with a number of offences in connection with an aggravated burglary on the Mountcollyer Avenue area of north Belfast on Sunday 24th December 2023.

Two of the men, both aged 23, have been charged with offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, aggravated burglary and criminal damage.

They are both expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 16th April.

A man aged 45 has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and is expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 17th April.

As is usual procedure all charges were reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

NI Young Entrepreneurs Embark On USA Connect Mission

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Ryan Murphy has met with a group of six early-stage entrepreneurs from the Good Friday generation taking part in a Young Enterprise NI (YENI) USA Connect mission to Boston and New York this week, funded by United States of America Embassy in the UK.

The Lord Mayor said: "It was a pleasure to meet these Young Enterprise Fellows before they embark on their trade mission to our Sister City Boston, and New York. They represent a brand-new generation of entrepreneurs here, who grew up in a more peaceful society, and are committed to building an inclusive, entrepreneurial economy here.

"Not only will they showcase their generation's ambition and how the local entrepreneurial ecosystem supports these emerging entrepreneurs, but they will also shine a positive spotlight on Belfast and the north and share the message that we're open for business, we're a city of innovation, and we're ready to grow."