Other NI News In Brief

Police Seek Driver

An 89-year-old man is recovering after being injured in a hit-and-run incident in Dundonald. The incident happened at 3pm on the Upper Newtownards Road just before Dundonald cemetery. A police spokesman said the elderly man was taken to hospital. Last night his condition was said to not be life-threatening. Police are appealing for anyone with information about it - especially about a grey car seen in the area.

Derry-Donegal Ferry In Jeopardy

Fears are being expressed for the future of a cross-border ferry service linking Donegal and Co Londonderry. The Lough Foyle Ferry has been operating between Magilligan and Greencastle in Co Donegal for the last seven years. It is used by both commuters and tourists and takes just 15 minutes to cross the one-mile stretch of water. However, it lost €56,000 last year and could be facing losses of more than €200,000 this year. The SDLP is calling on the Stormont Executive and the Irish Government to jointly step in and rescue the service from collapse.

Petrol Cost Rising

The cost of fuel on NI's forecourts have begun to creep up again. In some cases, as much as 3p a litre is being added at forecourts across Northern Ireland and comes on foot of pre-Christmas and New Year fuel 'price wars' which saw the 'Big Three' supermarkets offering significant discounts to tempt customers into their stores. At the time, the majority of large grocery outlets dropped the cost of petrol to a low of 82.9p a litre, while diesel fell to 94.9p at most local forecourts - much-aided by tumbling wholesale costs. Now that is set to change as prices rise - albeit slowly - again.

Pipebombs Made Safe In Limerick

An Irish army bomb disposal team has made safe a number of devices found along with a host of firearms and ammunition in Limerick. The team were called following the arms find in the Childers Road area of the city. As part of the ongoing investigation into serious crime in the Roxboro Road Garda District area, two sawn off shotguns, a rifle and a quantity of ammunition were found. A suspect package was also recovered and the Army Explosive Ordnance Team was requested. After completing their examination of the package, the EOD team discerned the package contained what was described as four viable pipe bombs.

Food Chain Links Profits For Agri-Software Firm

An Armagh company has secured business worth over $620,000 with the New York State government following support from Invest Northern Ireland. Trace First develops and provides software to facilitate livestock traceability, animal disease surveillance and emergency planning in the event of an outbreak that could contaminate the food chain. Invest NI start-up support helped the company to carry out feasibility testing and subsequently to roll out a major export marketing campaign. The company received support from the Transform programme, which is part-funded by the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. The deal with New York State will see Trace First supply its sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, software to the state’s agricultural department for the next three years. This comes less than two years after the company was established.

Northern Ireland's 'Greenest' Tenant Recognised

BAn Omagh woman has been named the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's 'greenest' tenant in its annual Energy Competition. Barbara Davies received a voucher for a short break in the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa in Newcastle. District runner-ups also received an energy saving gift pack. This year's competition was sponsored by the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa and the Energy Conservation Unit. The Housing Executive has a dual role as the Home Energy Conservation Authority. Its goal is to make Northern Ireland more energy efficient through a range of energy saving measures.

(BMcC/JM)