Other News In Brief

Health Minister Leads Tributes Following Death Of Carmel McKenny

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has paid tribute to Carmel McKinney OBE who has died after a period of ill health.

Ms McKinney was the first female chair of the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Board, serving in the post from 2015 to 2023.

A former school principal, she held a number of other public appointments including Equality Commissioner and membership of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

She received a number of awards in her distinguished career, including the Guardian Public Services Awards for Leadership Excellence in 2017 and the Institute of Directors Non-Executive Director of the Year 2018. She received an OBE in 2008 for services to education.

Mr Nesbitt said: "I was very saddened to hear of Carmel's passing and would like to express my condolences to her family and friends.

"I served with Carmel on the Policing Board and found her to be very knowledgeable and supportive."

Investigation Launched After Young Man Dies In Craigavon Lake

The PSNI are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man at Craigavon Lake in County Armagh.

It is understood that man had gotten into difficulty after he entered the water near Lake Road shortly after 6pm on Saturday, 08 June.

A large scale operation was launched, involving the PSNI, Fire and Rescue Service and Community Rescue Service volunteers.

The man's body was recovered from the water a short time later.

Police have said that while they are not treating the death as suspicious, enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing, and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

The Community Rescue Service urged swimmers to be "very cautious" around water.

SDLP Submit Amendment To Proposed Defective Premises Bill

The public must be protected from defective building materials, SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan MLA has said ahead of tabling an amendment to the Defective Premises Bill in the Assembly.

Mr McCrossan said that scandals around materials like mica and pyrite could never be repeated in the North.

West Tyrone MLA Mr McCrossan said: "As someone who represents a constituency that shares a border with Donegal I know all too well the pain and suffering that the discovery of defective materials like mica and pyrite in homes have caused to many families. Young people wanting to get on the housing ladder have seen their first home literally crumble before their eyes, while older people have seen their life savings go up in smoke. It has taken a huge mental and physical toll on those affected.

"Those impacted by this scandal have had to spend years fighting for fair compensation, a fight that is still going on and I believe that we need to do everything within our power to ensure that we do not see a repeat of this in the North. While instances of Mica and other defective materials have been thankfully small so far, it would be foolish to think that these materials did not cross the border and are present in some properties here.

"This amendment I am bringing forward today will ensure that if these defective materials are found in properties in the North that those impacted will have their case significantly strengthened when pursuing compensation through the courts. Having seen the devastation that this scandal has caused to many neighbours I would urge parties to back our amendment so that nobody has to go through the horrific experience inflicted on so many families in the South."