Other NI News In Brief

House Fire Probed

The police are appealing for information after a house in south Belfast was damaged by a fire on Tuesday night. They said that the blaze was started in a downstairs room and also at the back of the house on Jerusalem street in the 'Holy Lands' area. Damage was caused to a front room. No-one was in the house at the time. Police are still investigating the cause of the fire. They want anyone who saw anything suspicious between 8pm and 8.30pm BST to contact them.

Policing Board Looks At Human Rights

The Northern Ireland Policing Board has today announced a Human Rights Thematic Inquiry on Children and Young People. The inquiry will specifically consider the policing of anti-social behaviour; the Community Safety Strategy that proposes dispersal zones, parenting support orders, parental compensation orders, family intervention projects and powers to close premises and alternative proposals such as diversionary disposals and community restorative justice. It will be conducted in a number of different phases between now and the end of the year.

Energy Renewal In Focus

Over 100 local companies have discovered how the multi-billion pound global renewable energy market is presenting many diverse and significant commercial opportunities, at an Invest Northern Ireland workshop today. Driven by concerns around climate change and the need for security of supply, many governments around the world have committed to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and have set challenging targets for the generation of energy from renewable sources. Speaking at an event in Limavady, Olive Hill, Invest NI's Director of Technology and Process Development, highlighted how Northern Ireland companies can capitalise on renewable energy opportunities and play a major role in what is a rapidly growing market.

WWII Remembered At Country Park

Visitors to Castle Archdale Country Park will later this month take a step back in time to the build-up to the World War II D-Day landings. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) will offer the public a wonderful opportunity to come along and find out what life was like for members of the military based in Co Fermanagh at the time. The event, taking place on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May, will coincide with the visit of the American Consul, Susan Elliot, to commemorate General Eisenhower's hush-hush visit to Portora Playing Fields on 18 May 1944.

Murphy Announces Derry Roads Contract

NI Roads Minister Conor Murphy has announced the award of the £24million construction contract for the A2 Maydown to City of Derry Airport Dual Carriageway, to Lagan Construction. The 6.6km scheme will provide an all purpose dual carriageway and work is expected to commence later this month, running for a period of approximately 18 months: "It is an important step forward for the people of the northwest, that the construction work to improve this important road connecting Derry with Belfast via Coleraine is to begin. The provision of a new all purpose dual carriageway will help to ease congestion, resulting in a safer, faster and more attractive route for traffic on the A2," he said.

(BMcC/JM)