Other NI News In Brief

First Female PSNI Deputy Welcomed

The NIO Secretary of State, Shaun Woodward has given his formal approval to the NI Policing Board's recommendation that Judith Gillespie (pictured) should be appointed as the first ever female Deputy Chief Constable in Northern Ireland on the retirement of Paul Leighton from 31 May. Approving the appointment the Secretary of State said: "I am delighted to accept the recommendation of the fully representative Policing Board that Judith Gillespie be appointed Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI. Judith was chosen from a strong field of candidates and I believe she will prove to be an excellent Deputy Chief Constable." The new top cop has been a fast-paced police officer for 27 years having graduated from the RUC training college in Enniskillen in 1982 with the Baton of Honour - the prize awarded to the top student.

Petrol Bombing Victims Unhurt

A grandmother and grandchild have escaped injury after a petrol bomb attack on a house in west Belfast. It was thrown at the property in the Springmartin Close area of Ballymurphy at 4.50am on Thursday. The woman, who is understood to be in her early 50's and the 11-year-old girl, who were in the house at the time, escaped injury but were left shaken by the ordeal. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Kinahan To Contest South Antrim

A local councillor, Templepatrick art dealer Danny Kinahan has been selected to replace outgoing MLA David Burnside at Stormont. In February, South Antrim Ulster Unionist Mr Burnside confirmed he would be bowing out of local politics to pursue his business interests in London. At a meeting of the party's local association this week Mr Kinahan was selected on the basis of his showing at the previous Assembly election. He runs Danny Kinahan Fine Art and Antiques at the prestigious Castle Upton Art Gallery, on the family estate in Templepatrick, owned by his father, a long-serving unionist politician Sir Robin Kinahan

A Load Of Rubbish

Council officials in Londonderry are exploring ways to re-open two recycling centres which were shut last month to save money. The sites at Brandywell and Eglinton closed on 30 April but rubbish was left at the Brandywell site and protesters re-opened the gates after the closures anyway.

Unionists Get Bad Press In Guide

It has been claimed that an audio guide for tourists that cost over £100,000 to develop is not historically "balanced". Its use has now been blocked over fears it is partial with NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster yesterday refusing to 'sign off' on the podcast project because she believes the script relating to west Belfast gives a purely nationalist perspective of past events. She said it suggested violence during the Troubles came only from the unionist side.

Benefit Fraudsters Pay Price

A further eight people have been convicted for claiming benefits they were not entitled to. Belfast Magistrates' Court this week fined Keith Wilson from Monkstown £40 and ordered him to pay £46 court costs for failing to declare employment while claiming Jobseekers Allowance. Patricia Barr, from Belfast was given a £100 fine for failure to declare employment while claiming Income Support and Patrick Fenton - also Belfast - was given a £100 fine for failure to declare employment while claiming Jobseekers Allowance. Further Belfast claimants fined were Marguerite Emmett, Alison McCartan, Rodney McLaughlin, Nikita Rowntree and Terence Rush. All are also required to repay the money they wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

(BMcC/JM)