Other NI News In Brief

Charity Boss Makes Heartfelt Plea

Andrew Dougal Chief Executive of NI Chest Heart and Stroke (pictured) has said the closure of 12 of the 148 beds for heart patients in the Belfast Trust area is a "mistake". He said the move was driven by targets and not the needs of patients. Mr Dougal said: "Many people in hospitals outside Belfast will be sitting there blocking beds, waiting to get into Belfast for their investigations to find out whether they need heart surgery or not. At one stage, the waiting time was four years, they have now got it down to six months, and their next target is to get it down to three months. This will set the possibility of that target, back considerably."

Hijack Scare

A woman has been dragged from her car and threatened during a hijacking in Belfast city centre. The driver was in her red Hyundai vehicle at College Square North at about 7.50pm on Monday when she was approached by two men. One of the men held an object to the woman's face and shouted at her to get out of the car. The woman was then pulled from the car and both men got in before driving off. The vehicle was later recovered at Finaghy Road North.

Youth Prisons Slammed

The treatment of prisoners at Northern Ireland's young offenders centre has been severely criticised by inspectors. A report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons and the Criminal Justice Inspector recommends more than 180 improvements for the (main) Hydebank centre. They said many prisoners spend up to 20 hours a day locked in cells and the disciplinary system is overly punitive.

Second Murder Case Arrest

A second man, aged 44, has been arrested today (Wednesday) in connection with the murder of south Belfast man, Shane Cunningham. This is the second arrest in relation to the case as a 28-year-old man is still being questioned. Mr Cunningham, 39, was found dead at a house in Woodbreda Park, off the Saintfield Road on Tuesday morning. There were reports the murder of the stonemason may have been the result of a domestic dispute but this and further reports he may have been stabbed are both unconfirmed. Detectives are appealing for information and are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area during the early hours of Tuesday morning to contact them immediately.

Loyal Order Does Own Decoration

Orangement in Larne have erected red, white and blue bunting in the town ahead of the Twelfth procession, despite opposition from the local council. An Orange Order spokesperson confirmed the bunting was erected on Tuesday night. On Monday, around 200 Orangemen attended a protest at Larne Borough Council's offices, claiming their decision not to display bunting was "anti-British". However, the council said lodge members were free to put bunting up themselves, but that the council had to abide by equality laws and not do so themselves.

Rate Relief Targeted

NI Finance Minister Nigel Dodds has published plans to introduce data sharing legislation as part of a strategy to improve the take-up of rate reliefs. The proposals would allow the relevant agencies to share specified information held by the Department of Works and Pensions on its Client Information Service system. 

The aim is to identify and target those most likely to qualify for lone pensioner allowance, disabled persons allowance and the means tested rates relief scheme in order to increase take-up. 



Silent Sunday

It has emerged that some councillors in rural Limavady have threatened to block a proposed music festival - because they don't want rock music or alcohol on a Sunday. The Stendhal festival is due to take place in August at the Ballymully Cottage Estate near Drumsurn. But it may have to be cancelled if an entertainments licence is not granted at a council meeting on Thursday. United Unionist councillor Boyd Douglas said the festival was inappropriate "on the Sabbath day".

(BMcC)