Other NI News In Brief

Robbery Man Bound

An elderly man was tied up during an armed robbery at Eire Og GAA club, near Craigavon, in Co Armagh earlier this morning. Three masked men, one armed with a gun, entered the club on the Tullygally East Road at about 10.30am on Monday. They tied up the man who worked there before taking an undisclosed sum of money and making off in a silver Rover 75 car.

Firemen Save Brothers

Two young brothers have been rescued from a river in Co Down. The pair were hanging onto a rope swing above a river in Newcastle when then were pulled to safety. The Fire Service said it initially received a call at 7pm on Sunday that a boy was in the water at Tipperary Lane in the town. However, when they arrived it appears the older boy used a rope swing to pull his younger brother out of the water. Both boys were taken to hospital where one was treated for hypothermia.

SF Opposes Park Stadium

A Sinn Féin MLA has slammed recommendations for a new Belfast sports stadium at Ormeau Park. Alex Maskey said his party will continue to support local residents in the Ballynafeigh area in their campaign to oppose the building of a stadium. He was speaking after consultants hired by Belfast City Council recommended Ormeau Park as the site for a new sports complex. "Proposals to site the new stadium in Ormeau Park have resurfaced once again. Those who are supporting the calls to site the stadium in Ormeau Park are going against the wishes of almost all of the residents living in the area that I have spoken to," he said.

Belfast Points The Way

An award-winning scheme designed to help visitors find their way around Belfast more easily, is literally 'signposting the way' for other cities across the world to do the same. Belfast City Council's unique visitor signage scheme, which features signposts and information boards at a wide variety of key locations around the city, is being hailed as an example of best practice. Council officials are now being invited to advise other cities on how they can implement similar schemes, to the benefit of their own tourism industries.

Belfast Water Upgrade To Begin

Upgrade works are to commence soon on the £80m Water Mains Rehabilitation Programme in Belfast city centre, NI Water has said. This investment is required to protect public health, meet European standards on water quality and respond to increasing demand. Paul Bryce, NI Water Project Manager, said: "The scheme which involves replacing approximately 7km of watermains in Belfast city centre represents a significant investment. It will provide a modern water distribution network, which will meet the present and future needs of customers. Work is expected to get underway at the end of July and will take approximately five months to complete."

Youth View Sought On Running NI

The NI Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has launched a new mobile media resource to help young people express their views and influence decision makers in government and other places. The 'Where is My Public Servant' (WIMPS) mobile is designed to bring the latest in video production and multi-media technology to young people throughout Northern Ireland. This will enable them to engage directly with elected representatives and make their views known. The vehicle, complete with a range of video production equipment (cameras, laptops, lights etc.) will support young people to conduct interviews with leading political figures. These interviews are designed to get politicians' views on issues important to young people and also to find out more about the politician as a person. The project will also help young people to make films in their communities about issues that are important to them.

Renewables Firm Wins Forest Contract

Omagh-based Renewable Building Technologies Ltd has been commissioned by Gorey Courtown Forest Park Ltd to act as renewable energy and building services consultants. The firm has also been tasked with devising a concept design for a National Sustainable Energy Centre in Courtown Harbour, Co Wexford. Gorey Courtown Forest Park Ltd is a non profit organisation, formed in 1993 by the Gorey Courtown Development Committee set up by local business people.

(BMcC/KMcA)