Other News In Brief

Two Men Arrested In Connection With Assault In Killough

Two men have been arrested in connection with a serious assault in Killough on Monday, 22 April.

According to reports, a number of men were involved in an altercation in the Main Street area.

Detective Sergeant Lewis said: "It was reported shortly before 8.45pm that four men were travelling into Killough in two separate vehicles, when a vehicle approached them from the side and stopped their car.

"A number of men allegedly disembarked from this vehicle and began attempting to drag a man from one of the other two vehicles.

"The suspects then proceeded to assault him with weapons and a brawl ensued between the men who were present in the area.

"Two of the men who were injured required hospital treatment for their injuries which are not believed to have been life-threatening.

"A short time later officers arrested two men, aged 60 and 37, on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, as well as other related offences.

"They were questioned by detectives and later released on bail pending further enquiries as the investigation continues.

"We are keen to hear from anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the area between 8.30pm and 8.45pm in the Main Street area of the town to make contact with police.

"Anyone with information that could help, including dash-cam, CCTV or mobile phone footage, is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1785 22/04/24."

A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/report

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/

South Down Alliance MLA Patrick Brown Resigns

The Alliance Party has confirmed that South Down Alliance MLA, Patrick Brown, has resigned with immediate effect, due to "personal reasons".

A party spokesperson said: "It is with regret we announce Patrick’s immediate resignation due to personal reasons.

"We thank him for his service, which saw him help Alliance make an historic breakthrough in South Down at the Assembly, and wish him well in his future endeavours."

Patrick Brown added: "I want to thank the people of South Down, whose support helped me and the local Alliance team substantially grow the party in the constituency.

"It has been an honour to represent local people and help them on important issues. I am proud of my track record as a constituency MLA and remain committed to Alliance values, and look forward to seeing the party continue to grow across Northern Ireland.

"This May, I will have been an elected representative for 10 years and feel the time is right to step aside for personal reasons. I am proud of the work I have done since being elected, including supporting those impacted by flooding, campaigning on environmental and animal welfare issues, and my work on the Windsor Framework and Infrastructure Committees.

"Alliance continues to have my support, as will whoever is co-opted by the party to fill the position of South Down MLA."

DUP Calls For Increase In Foster Care Allowance

The DUP has called on the Health Minister Robin Swann to urgently increase allowances paid to foster carers in Northern Ireland.

Commenting ahead of a debate on a motion brought before the Assembly by the DUP highlighting the need to increasing foster carer recruitment, Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds said: "Foster carers play a vital role across Northern Ireland, providing a safe, loving and nurturing home for vulnerable children and young people. It is critical that they are valued and properly remunerated.

"The number of children and young people presently in care in Northern Ireland is at a record high. In eight out of ten of those cases, a child will be supported through fostering arrangements. Yet despite demand rising sharply, the number of local foster carers who de-registered in 2022/23 actually increased by 66%. Last year, the Fostering Network NI also published research which indicated that around 260 additional foster carers were needed to meet both existing and expected demand.

"One of the factors fuelling this crisis in recruitment and retention is the fact that financial support for foster carers is lagging behind what is provided in other regions of the United Kingdom and indeed the Republic of Ireland. The current allowances simply do not reflect the full cost of looking after and supporting a child in care. Previous studies have found that those costs are generally higher than when compared with children not in contact with children's services.

"The Minister of Health must realise that it is wrong for foster carers to be expected to subsidise unmet basic costs. In some instances, due to the appalling wait times for access to hospital services or counselling, a foster care feels they have no choice but to dig into their own pockets to ensure a child can access services and expertise critical to helping them to recover from trauma of adverse experiences. That is deplorable.

"Without appropriate financial support that takes account of the high cost of living, many prospective carers understandably simply struggle to see how they could do the job justice and support a child to best effect. That represents a missed opportunity to secure better outcomes for local children and young people. Therefore, I would call on the Minister to urgently provide an uplift to the current foster care allowances."