Other NI News In Brief

Dissident Suspects Held

Gardaí investigating the activities of dissident republicans have this morning arrested two men in the Monasterevin area of Co Kildare. Both men, aged in their 50s and 20s, are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939 at Naas Garda Station. This morning's operation involved members from the Special Detective Unit, Emergency Response Unit supported by local Gardai. This afternoon, the scene remained sealed off as a technical examination of the area was ongoing.

Derry Woman's Death Probed

A second 21-year-old man has been arrested by police investigating the suspicious death of a woman in the Strathfoyle area of Londonderry. It is not yet clear how the victim died as police revealed last night they are investigating after a woman's body was discovered. The shock find, at Clonnmeen Drive in the Strathfoyle area, is being treated as suspicious. The unnamed victim's body was found at about 8am on Tuesday and yesterday, the area was cordoned off as officers in forensic suits carried out searches in and around the two-storey house. Two men of the same age are now assisting the police.

Murphy Signs 'Are Tribalism'

The Alliance party has expressed disbelief at plans by NI's Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy for Irish or Ulster-Scots on road signs. Alliance election candidate Cllr Judith Cochrane said the plans would divide NI and is also astonished that this issue is even near Minister Conor Murphy's list of priorities given the current challenges he faces to improve the water infrastructure and winter treatment of roads and footpaths. Alliance Regional Development Spokesperson, MLA Anna Lo said: "This plan will mean clear tribal demarcations as there can never be a sign featuring three languages together. This is akin to people putting flags up in certain areas to mark out territory. This will be like an institutionalised mark of tribalism," she said. See: Bilingual Traffic Signs On Way

Education Budget 'Stalled'

The DUP spokesperson on Education, Mervyn Storey has called on the Stormont Education Minister to publish her spending plan and has said her foot-dragging is causing uncertainty for schools and other education stakeholders. Commenting after discussing the matter with party colleague, Finance Minister Sammy Wilson, the North Antrim MLA said: "It is now over four weeks since the Finance Minister presented the Draft Budget statement to the Assembly. It is regrettable but not surprising that the Minister for Education, Caitriona Ruane, has not yet published her Department's budget. Despite my repeated requests as Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, to both the Sinn Fein Minster and her officials we still remain in the dark as to the detail and impact of the budget for schools, pupils and teachers across Northern Ireland," he fumed.

'Attack Dog' Owner Fined

A Belfast court has ordered that a dog involved in three attacks be surrendered to Belfast City Council for destruction. The news emerged after a woman was fined £300 after her dog attacked and injured three people. Victoria Beatty, from Orangefield Green, was also ordered to pay costs of £75 after a court heard how her Japanese Akita dog had attacked and injured three people on three separate occasions, outside her east Belfast home. The offences occurred on May 25, May 27 and August 4 last year.

Meters Not Answer

Putting water meters in every home in NI would cost over £100m, an MLA has been told. The figure emerged through an Assembly question to Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy from Ulster Unionist Sam Gardiner who said he was opposed to water charges, but feared they would eventually be brought in to address the weaknesses to the NI water system and noted that meters would be a fairer way of assessing water use than a flat tax. In his reply to Mr Gardiner's assembly question, the Minister said: "I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water that it estimates the cost of installing a water meter in all domestic properties would be in the region of £106m.

Shopkeeper Pays Price

A shopkeeper has been fined £500 for selling cigarettes to a person under 18. Josephine Devine, of The Flush, on Springfield Road in the west Belfast, was also ordered to pay costs of £69 following a test purchasing exercise at the shop on August 25, 2010 in a prosecution was brought by Belfast City Council.

(BMcC/GK)