Other News In Brief

Appeal Following Arson In Newtownabbey

PSNI detectives have issues an appeal for information following a report of arson endangering life at residential premises at the Dermont Way area of Newtownabbey.

Shortly after 00:05am on Friday 22nd November, it was reported to police that a liquid was poured through the letterbox of a property and set alight. Damage was caused to the front door, hallway and kitchen area following the incident. No one was inside the property.

Detective Sergeant Crothers said: "Enquiries are continuing and detectives are investigating the possibility this may have been a case of mistaken identity. The investigation remains at an early stage.

"Police would appeal to anyone with any information to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 6 22/11/24. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime."

Health Service Facing 'Very Difficult Winter' – SDLP

Executive dysfunction will leave Northern Ireland's health service facing a very difficult winter, SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has warned.

He was speaking after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announced proposed cuts as a result of the Executive's budget allocation to his department.

South Down MLA Mr McGrath said: "The Assembly's Health Committee was set to hear evidence from the trusts today around winter preparedness – we expected a stark message, given the many pressures facing our health service, but instead we will now be hearing about further cuts that are needed after the Health Minister rushed out a statement an hour beforehand about his budget situation. "Blame for this situation lies with the entire Executive, this is typical of the dysfunction that delivers such poor governance for people here. Many of our Ministers seem immune to the notion of collective responsibility, on the rare occasion when things are going well they line up for photos and plaudits, but when things start falling apart it doesn't take long for the finger pointing to begin.

"We all acknowledge the need for this place to be funded properly, but it's time that our Executive starts taking responsibility for the decisions that it makes. Our health service actually spends more money per head than anywhere in Britain, but how we use that money, the failure to implement the necessary transformation and other modernising measures, that have left us facing this bleak finance picture. Simply blaming the UK Government doesn't wash anymore.

"It will be our underpaid and hardworking health staff and patients who feel the brunt of these cuts this winter. What was already an incredibly difficult situation is set to get even worse. We can't keep doing nothing and expecting our public services to improve."

Cyclist Dies In North Belfast Road Traffic Collision

The PSNI have named a cyclist who died following a collision in north Belfast on Thursday morning, as 58-year-old Gary McMahon.

The collision, involving Mr McMahon and a lorry, occurred in the Clifton Street area shortly before 7.50am on Thursday, 21 November.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, Mr McMahon died at the scene of his injuries.

Inspector Cherith Adair from the PSNI’s Collision Investigation Unit said enquiries into the collision are ongoing and appealed to to anyone with any information, or who may have dash-cam footage available to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference number 178 21/11/24.