Other NI News In Brief

Murder Victim Was Strangled

Antrim Crown Court has today been told how a Co Antrim woman found murdered in Ballymena had been strangled. The revelation came as a man went on trial accusing of murdering Shirley Finlay, 24, whose partially-clothed body was discovered wrapped in a duvet and bound with bin bags in a car park in September 2006. Henryk Gorski, 51, of Hill Street in Ballymena, but originally from Poland, denies murdering Ms Finlay between 17 September 2006 and 20 September 2006.

Traffic Wardens Sacked

Trade union officials have vowed to do all in its power to overturn the dismissal of 26 traffic wardens following an unofficial strike in Belfast earlier this month. The NCP workers were protesting about conditions including sickness pay and rota changes. The company sacked the workers out of a total on street patrol across Northern Ireland of 180.

Electoral Boss Announced

The Secretary of State Shaun Woodward has today announced the appointment of Richard Mackenzie as District Electoral Areas Commissioner for Northern Ireland. The DEAC is appointed under the District Electoral Areas Commissioner (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 as amended and he will make recommendations on the grouping of local government wards in Northern Ireland within district council areas for the purposes of elections to local councils.

North Coast Fires 'Suspicious'

Fires at separate locations near the north coast are both being treated as suspicious, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has said. A woman in her 30s had to be treated for smoke inhalation after a blaze broke out at a house on the Ballybogey Road near Coleraine. The fire started shortly after 8pm on Sunday and two appliances from Coleraine attended the scene. The two-storey detached house was well alight by the time they arrived. The woman managed to escape and had safely exited the property by the time crews arrived. In a separate incident, less than 15 miles away, a large part of the cliff top at north coast beauty spot Kenbane Castle was destroyed in a fire started by someone who had left a barbecue.

See: Careless Day-Trippers Blamed For North Coast Blaze

Animal Welfare Boss Hits Out Over Dog Attack

The USPCA's Chief Executive Stephen Philpott has said that a dog attack on a horse should be investigated by the police. The animal was attacked by a dog during a show-jumping event in Londonderry. The horse was being led by a young girl at an event in the council-owned Ballyarnett Park on Sunday. The horse was bitten on its neck and hind quarters when it was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier.

Bolivian Death To Be Probed

The death of an Irish citizen in disputed circumstances in South America may be the subject of a major probe. The family of the dead man, Michael Dwyer, have issued a fresh statement after the Government's call yesterday for an international probe into the shooting. Relatives of the 24-year-old man - who was killed by security forces in Bolivia - say they are now "relieved and comforted" that his body is now in the hands of Irish authorities. Now the full facts are set to be investigated while Mr Dwyer's relatives are awaiting final documentation for repatriation and the process is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Martin and Caroline Dwyer are meanwhile said to be "focused on getting their son back home".

See: Photograph May Be A Key To Bolivia Death

(BMcC/KMcA)