Other NI News In Brief

IFA 'Sack' Move Approved

The Irish Football Association Executive has backed the decision to sack its Chief Executive Howard Wells. During a meeting on Thursday it was also decided that IFA President Raymond Kennedy will continue as acting Chief Executive of the governing body.

Hoax Bomb Closes School

Pupils at a west Belfast school has been turned away today because of a bomb alert - which has since turned out to be a hoax. The alert took place after a suspicious object was discovered close to St Colm's school on the outskirts of west Belfast. It has now been removed - after being declared safe by the Army - for technical examination.

Drive-By Shooting In Ards

A 28-year-old man is being treated in hospital following a drive-by shooting in Co Down. Shortly before 10pm Thursday the man was making his way home in the Brewery Lane/Regent Street area of Newtownards, when a car pulled up beside him. The man was then shot a number of times in the legs. The car, believed to be silver or blue coloured Volvo, then sped off.

SF Plan Counter Demo On Forces' Day

The Parades Commission has it all to do next week with news that a Sinn Fein march may disrupt the long planned Royal Irish Regiment homecoming parade in Belfast with a counter demonstration on the same day. It emerged last night that the party has lodged an application with the Parades Commission to hold their own march on November 2, as members of the armed forces parade through Belfast for the first time since World War Two. The news came just hours after Royal Irish soldiers paraded as heroes through an English town. The party proposes to start and finish in Belfast city centre around the same time as the homecoming parade. A Sinn Fein MLA defended the protest. "I'm on record, saying I want to see as many of these British troops coming home uninjured," said Paul Maskey MLA. "But many thousands of people expressed their concern with regards to these illegal wars." He added he did believed Belfast "as a city, should not be getting involved in the issue" by welcoming the troops home.

South Belfast Boosted

DSD Minister Margaret Richie has welcomed the unveiling of several regeneration projects in south Belfast, targeted at economic development. The Minister visited some of the projects, funded by her department's Neighbourhood Renewal scheme, under the direction of the South Belfast Partnership Board. Ms Ritchie took a tour of Lower Crescent, Botanic and Bradbury Place and was provided with an overview of some of the regeneration and economic development work. Emphasising the need for a 'joined-up approach' to regeneration activities, Minister Ritchie commented "this is an excellent example of how different government departments, agencies, the private sector and local communities can come together to provide worthwhile projects that will enhance the lives of people".

Ards Flowers Planted

Two community groups in Newtownards have joined with local schoolchildren, the Housing Executive and Ecoseeds Ltd, to help plant wildflowers in an area of grassland in the Bowtown estate. Members of the Bowtown Senior Citizens Group and the Bowtown Womens Ahead Group, visited the wildflower meadow to receive certificates for their help in transforming the area into a colourful focal point for local residents to enjoy. Presenting the certificates were Mark Bryson, Senior Consultant from Ecoseeds, and Keith Porter, the Housing Executive's Grounds Supervisor for the Newtownards District.

DPP Boss Hits Out Over Rapes

The Belfast District Policing Partnership (DPP) Chairman Councillor Christopher Stalford has called for immediate police action to reduce the number of sexual assaults and rapes in the city. Speaking today, Cllr Stalford said: "First and foremost our thoughts and prayers go out to the people who have been affected by this spate of sexual assaults which have received so much media attention recently. As Chairman of the Principal Partnership of the Belfast District Policing Partnership, I would appeal to anyone who has information on these incidents to go to the Police and to co-operate fully with them in bringing the perpetrators of such wicked crimes to justice. In conjunction with my colleagues who serve on the DPP, we will be scrutinising closely the police response to this recent spate of sexual assaults and rapes and will be looking for a robust police response."

(BMcC)