Other UK News In Brief

Adams Rejects IRA Accusation

Gerry Adams has reiterated his rejection of senior IRA membership allegations published in a book. On the day that the daughter of a Protestant woman murdered by the IRA revealed she is planning a civil action against the Sinn Fein President over his alleged role in her mother's disappearance, the veteran republican has again denied his alleged top role in the IRA. Journalist Ed Moloney's book, 'Voices from the Grave' claims the Sinn Fein boss ordered the killing and secret burial of mother of 10, Jean McConville, in 1972. Now, as her daughter Helen McKendry said she would pursue Mr Adams in the courts, MP Gerry Adams said: "I reject absolutely any accusation that I had any hand or part in the killing and disappearing of Jean McConville or in any of the other allegations that are being promoted by Ed Moloney."

No Re-Trial

The Crown Prosecution Service has said it was not in the public interest to put a man on trial again after he was accused of attacking a burglar at his family's home in Buckinghamshire. He will not face a retrial, the Crown Prosecution Service after Munir Hussain, 53, and his 35-year-old brother Tokeer Hussain were found guilty of grievous bodily harm, but then had their sentences were reduced on appeal.

Tory Proposals Slammed

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has criticised Conservative proposals for spending cuts to finance a reduction in national insurance contributions. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the proposals outlined by the Shadow Chancellor George Osborne would result in an even steeper fall in Whitehall spending than already pencilled in by the Government and lead to almost £30bn of spending power being removed from the economy over the next 12 months.

Wales Road Toll Rises

A man and a woman have died after the car they were travelling in left the road and hit a garden wall. A road in East Aberthaw, Vale of Glamorgan, was closed for five hours as police carried out initial investigations and removed the car. The couple were travelling in a gold-coloured Renault Laguna along Station Terrace when the crash happened at about 10.50pm on Sunday. The male driver and female front seat passenger died at the scene.

Home Loans Falling

The number of homebuyer loans is at a nine-month low, the Bank of England has said, as level of unsecured consumer debt rises. The number of mortgages approved for house purchase fell for the third month in a row during February as the housing market continued to show signs of slowing down, figures revealed today. A total of 47,094 loans were approved for people buying a home during the month, 21% down on the recent peak reached in November last year, according to the Bank of England.