Other NI News In Brief

Jury Out On Northern Bank Cash

The jury in the trial of a financial adviser accused of laundering money from the £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery has retired to consider a verdict. Irish state prosecutors claim Timothy 'Ted' Cunningham knew that more than £3 million traced to him was from the infamous December 2004 heist. The 60-year-old, of Farran, Co Cork, denies 20 offences linked to the 'dirty money' racket which moved cash from Belfast to Cork in the Irish Republic. The financier maintained that £2.3 million discovered in a locked cupboard in the basement of his home on February 16, 2005 came from the cash sale of a gravel pit in Co Offaly to Bulgarian businessmen

NIHE Evicts Rowdy Tenants

Two social housing tenants in north Belfast have been 'turfed out' by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for anti-social behaviour. The authority took possession of the two properties in response to ongoing complaints. The repossessed properties are in the New Lodge and Lenadoon areas of Belfast. NI Housing Executive officials went to court and secured an Order for Possession in respect of both properties. The orders were granted on the grounds of proven unacceptable behaviour by the tenants, which included loud noise, parties and abusive behaviour.

French Meat Exports Sought

European sales executives from six local beef and lamb processors are now following up new business leads in France made during an Invest Northern Ireland organised visit to Belfast by top retail and foodservice buyers from Paris during the week. The value of Sterling against the Euro has given Northern Ireland companies a much sharper competitive edge, according to Maynard Mawhinney, Invest NI's Food director. "As well as quality, innovation and, of course, the total traceability of our beef and lamb, the buyers were quick to spot that the current value of sterling makes Northern Ireland meat exceptionally good value," he said.

Deal Agreed On Lecturers' Pay

A three-year dispute over higher education lecturers' pay has been resolved, the NI Employment Minister has said. An offer for FE colleges up to 2011 has been accepted following a ballot of University and College Union members, Sir Reg Empey added. It includes a 6% increase with an additional payment for some lecturers at the top of their scales funded from efficiency savings.

Voting Gets Easier

The new Electoral Office Business Plan - which was published on Thursday - includes a number of measures that will make it even easier for members of the public to register to vote and to obtain electoral identity cards. In the run up to the European Parliamentary Elections on 4 June all Area Electoral Offices will be open to the public on some Saturday mornings. Later in the year some offices will pilot evening opening whilst others will pilot provision of the full range of services at locations other than the Electoral Office on a limited opening basis. A further significant improvement in the level of customer service will be the reduction from 14 to a maximum of seven days in the time taken to produce electoral identity cards.

Dump Man Loses Assets

A Co Antrim man was yesterday made the subject of a £200,000 confiscation order at Antrim Crown Court for waste offences. This is the first confiscation order secured by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) Financial Investigators independently of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (formerly the Assets Recovery Agency). Brian Thompson George (65) of Ballyutoag Road, Carnaghliss, Nutts Corner, Crumlin, appeared in confiscation proceedings following his conviction on 5 December 2007 when he was fined £75,000 and given a two year sentence suspended for two years. The waste was discovered on 25 May 2005 during an inspection visit by officers from the NIEA (formerly the Environment and Heritage Service), after they received complaints about illegal dumping. A subsequent intrusive search on 20 July 2005 disclosed various wastes. At today's hearing the Court determined that Mr George had financially benefitted from his criminal conduct in the sum of £1,841,571 and made a confiscation order in the sum of £200,000.

(BMcC/JM)