Other News In Brief

Man Hospitalised After Petrol Bomb Attack in Crossmaglen

A man was taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation following a petrol bomb attack in Crossmaglen in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Shortly before 3:45am, emergency services were called to the scene in the Carran Close area after a number of vehicles were set alight outside a house.

"Colleagues from the Northern Fire and Rescue Service also attended the scene and extinguished the blaze, which is being treated as deliberate ignition," said a Police spokesperson.

Two vehicles were completely destroyed in the incident, while a third vehicle was damaged. The front of the property also sustained extensive damage, and there was smoke damage inside.

"This was an extremely reckless attack, and our enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances," the spokesperson added.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has any information that could assist with their investigation to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 133 of 13/02/25.

Alternatively, information can also be given anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

SF Welcomes Return Of Ancestral Remains To Hawaii

Sinn Féin has welcomed a decision to return ancestral human remains to their country of origin in Hawaii.

It comes three years after ancestral human remains and sacred artefacts were repatriated to Hawaii by National Museums Northern Ireland (NMNI) in 2022. 

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Culture, Arts and Sport and West Tyrone MLA Nicola Brogan MLA, said: “I welcome the leadership being shown by the Ulster Museum to repatriate ancestral human remains to their native Hawaii, where they can be preserved by the communities who have a cultural attachment to them. "The remains and sacred objects had been taken from Hawaii in 1840 without consent and it is right and appropriate that they be returned.

Ms Brogan commended the Ulster Museum for their efforts in finding the items in order to make this happen, adding: "This is a significant decision and one which should be replicated by other museums including the British Museum in London who continue to hold on to artefacts that were stolen during conquest and colonialism, including those items taken from Ireland."

DUP Queries Funding Source for Police Ombudsman Appeal

DUP Justice Spokesperson Joanne Bunting has questioned who will fund the Police Ombudsman's appeal of a recent High Court ruling.

The High Court ruled that the Ombudsman had exceeded its legal powers in making findings of 'collusive behaviour' against police officers.

"The decision by the Police Ombudsman to appeal this ruling will dismay many people, not least because it is not the first time the Courts have delivered a judgement in relation to the PONI's approach to legacy cases," said Ms. Bunting.

Ms. Bunting raised concerns about the financial implications of the appeal, stating: "The question now arises as to where the funding will come from for this appeal. The only options for this would appear to be from within the Ombudsman's own budget or from the Department for Justice. We already know of the significant financial pressure facing the Department, with real potential for services to be cut in an attempt to meet the shortfall. On the other hand, if it comes from the Ombudsman's office then this will impact on the office's ability to deal with cases."

Ms. Bunting also highlighted concerns about the current operation of the Ombudsman's office, stating that there have been instances where the office has failed to acknowledge receipt of cases for up to four months.

"In neither scenario is the funding of an appeal a good use of time and scarce financial resources," she concluded.