tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47557374676042410772025-11-23T05:33:40.653-08:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-21201722287589340832011-08-01T22:24:00.000-07:002011-08-01T22:24:00.319-07:00 30 July 2011 Last updated at 16:08 GMT <IMG height=171 alt=Rioting src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54354956nhcgwcf1.gif" width=304> The three appeared over rioting in Ardoyne and east Belfast Three alleged rioters, including a 15-year-old boy, have been released on bail after appearing in court in Belfast. </P><P>Two of those who appeared on Saturday were accused of involvement in rioting in the Ardoyne area on 12 July. </P><P>The teenager was allegedly involved in trouble at the east Belfast interface. </P><P>Police have now arrested 27 people for involvement in the Ardoyne trouble. Officers came under attack from people throwing missiles following a contentious parade in the area. </P><P>The court heard that Joseph Rainey, 18, from Flax Street in Belfast admitted throwing missiles at police lines on two occasions in Ardoyne and had accepted that "his behaviour had been disgraceful". </P><P>District judge Amanda Henderson said she was only granting bail because of the accused's limited record and acceptance of guilt during interviews. </P><P><STRONG>Ronan Kerr</STRONG></P><P>Objecting to bail for the 15-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, a detective constable revealed that when told to sign paperwork, he had replied: "Do you want me to sign this as Ronan Kerr?"</P><P>She also said that he had been involved in rioting at the same time last year and had also been questioned about other incidents in recent months. </P><P>The detective said the public had a right to be protected from the teen. </P><P>The judge said she would grant bail, but only because of his age and because an address in County Down had been put forward for the boy to go to live with his grandmother. </P><P>The teenager was ordered to be electronically tagged, observe a nightime curfew and not to wear a hoodie or baseball cap or other clothing that could conceal his identity. </P><P>The court also heard that Martin Brannigan, 25, from Monagh Drive in west Belfast had accepted getting a bus from his house to north Belfast to watch the riot. </P><P>However, he allegedly became involved and was identified on CCTV throwing masonry at police. </P><P>All three who appeared in court were also ordered to stay 500 metres away from any parade. </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14353370" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-46798878782731641872011-08-01T20:36:00.000-07:002011-08-01T20:36:00.150-07:00 30 July 2011 Last updated at 11:10 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Road closed sign" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54351473policecrash.jpg" width=304> The crash happened in the early hours of Saturday morning A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit after a car crash in County Armagh on Saturday.</P><P>The crash happened at Drumintee Road in Meigh in the early hours of the morning. </P><P>A woman was taken to hospital for treatment for serious leg injuries. </P><P>Two other men and a woman was also hospitalised. Their injuries are not believed to be serious. </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14353364" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-25908230048056226902011-08-01T19:27:00.000-07:002011-08-01T19:27:00.298-07:00 28 July 2011 Last updated at 15:39 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Bank notes" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54315683banknotes226.jpg" width=304> Sinn Fein continued to have the largest income of all the main parties in Northern Ireland last year - taking in more than ?1.2m. </P><P>The party spent less than it took in and remains in the black by ?76,960. </P><P>The figures, published by the Electoral Commission, also reveal that the DUP and the SDLP are in the red. </P><P>The Ulster Unionists show a healthier balance than previous years with income of around ?440,000 and a balance sheet in the black by around ?40,000. </P><P>UUP treasurer Mark Cosgrove said he was delighted his party "continued to show a good set of financial figures and looked forward to maintaining these in the future".</P>Continue reading the main story <P><STRONG>DUP:</STRONG> Income of ?268,456; spent ?335,678 - net loss of ?67,222</P><P><STRONG>Sinn Fein</STRONG>: Income of ?1,289,335; spent ?1,212,375 - ?76,960 in the black.</P><P><STRONG>UUP</STRONG>: Income of ?440,949; spent ?398,295 - ?42,654 in the black.</P><P><STRONG>SDLP:</STRONG> Income of ?346,946; spent ?413,238 - net loss of ?66,292</P>Meanwhile, the SDLP is refusing to comment on whether or not some staff have been given notice.</P><P>The party's chief executive Michael Savage told the BBC that the SDLP did not comment on staffing matters. </P><P>He added the party's financial position was similar to other organisations across Europe especially on the back of election campaigns. </P><P>"I acknowledge the party has a deficit which we are addressing as an organisation and a plan is in place to deal with that," he said.</P><P>Accounts were also filed by the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland.</P><P>It took in ?408,127 and spent ?391,359 leaving it in the black by ?16,768.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14326665" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-83840355937088809862011-08-01T18:18:00.000-07:002011-08-01T18:18:00.712-07:00 29 July 2011 Last updated at 13:57 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Darryl O'Donnell " src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54341128facebookman.jpg" width=304> Darryl O'Donnell said he had no regrets about what he posted A 31-year-old chef convicted of posting a menacing message about DUP MP Gregory Campbell on Facebook has been fined ?500 and given a suspended jail term.</P><P>Darryl O'Donnell a father of two from Belvedere Park, Londonderry, posted that Mr Campbell "should get a bullet in the head".</P><P>It followed comments attributed to Mr Campbell in June of last year about the Saville report into Bloody Sunday.</P><P>O'Donnell was given a five month jail sentence suspended for three years.</P><P>In his sentencing at Londonderry Magistrates Court, District Judge Barney McElholm said Mr Campbell was entitled to state his opinion whether or not people agreed with what he said. </P><P>The district judge said O'Donnell's comments were menacing and offensive and should not have been posted on Facebook. </P><P>He said O'Donnell who has 22 previous convictions, 11 of them for public order offences, did not come before the court with clean hands. </P>'Engage his brain' <P>Mr McElholm imposed another five month suspended sentence consecutively on O'Donnell plus a ?200 fine when he admitted committing disorderly behaviour at Guildhall Square on 19 May. </P><P>Mr McElholm said when Mr O'Donnell opened his mouth he did not seem to engage his brain first and said that only for the fact that he had recently got a job he would be going to jail. </P><IMG height=171 alt="East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54342504gregcampbell.jpg" width=304> East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell was the subject of the comment <P>Following his Facebook sentencing O'Donnell said he was glad it was all over but added he had no regrets.</P><P>Commenting on the sentencing, Mr Campbell said: "I reported the comments to the police because of their menacing and threatening nature. </P><P>"Just as it is wrong to make such menacing comments against an individual using traditional communication tools it is equally wrong to make the comments through new media."</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14345649" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-64357369643938060082011-08-01T16:38:00.000-07:002011-08-01T16:38:00.296-07:00 29 July 2011 Last updated at 05:19 GMT By Nikki Gregg BBC Sport <IMG height=171 alt="Jason Smyth may have to improve his personal best of 10.32" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54339844smyth466.jpg" width=304> Jason Smyth faces a tough heat in the 100 metres at the European Championships in Barcelona Comparisons to the fastest man in history aren't easily earned. </P><P>A matter of weeks after Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt dominated the opposition on his way to Olympic glory in Beijing, Jason Smyth became the star turn of the Paralympic sprint competition.</P><P>He proved himself to be a class apart as he won gold medals in the 100m and 200m, both in world record times. </P><P>"It seems so long ago now," he said. </P><P>"Also, how quickly the time has flown past. Here we are, a year away from London and, hopefully, I'll be in good shape to do something similar." </P><P>Jason is a visually impaired athlete. He has Sargardt's disease, which is a hereditary condition. </P><P>Since his success in Beijing, the 24 year-old has been clocking up milestones, becoming the first Paralympian to compete at the European Championships. He reached the semi-finals in Barcelona and this year set a new Northern Irish record at 100 metres. </P><P>For the past two seasons Jason has trained in Florida alongside some of the sport's highest profile names, such as former world champion Tyson Gay. Results and confidence show Jason has blossomed in that elite company.</P><P>His ambition now is to "double up" and sprint in both the Olympics and Paralympics next summer, which would be a first. At present he is just four one-hundredths of a second outside the qualifying standard for the mainstream competition in London - and his attempt to double up is inevitably attracting a lot of interest. </P><P>"Yes I want to qualify and get the Olympic 'A' standard." he told me.</P><P>"But it's more about being the best I can be, achieving my potential. Another thing, I suppose, especially for people with disabilities, is that it shows that nothing's impossible. </P><P>"That if you want to do something, if you put in the work, it's very much achievable." </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14337747" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-81381012940263870992011-08-01T14:49:00.000-07:002011-08-01T14:49:00.194-07:00 29 July 2011 Last updated at 13:42 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="JTI factory in Ballymena" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54344049jti.jpg" width=304> The accident happened at the JTI factory in Ballymena A man critically injured in an industrial accident in Ballymena on Monday morning has died.</P><P>It is understood a piece of machinery fell on the man as it was being serviced. It happened at the JTI plant in the town.</P><P>The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the circumstances.</P><P>In a statement on Friday it said: "Heath and Safety Executive NI has been informed by the PSNI that the injured party has passed away this morning."</P><P>The man's name has not yet been released.</P><P>The JTI plant was formerly the Gallaher cigarette factory.</P><P>District journalist Nicola Weir said: "I'm being told that the man was part of a team that was servicing a robotic arm used at the JTI plant. </P><P>"It appears that during the servicing this arm fell onto the man and trapped him on scaffolding." </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14345646" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-38805517432625033592011-08-01T13:27:00.000-07:002011-08-01T13:27:00.252-07:00 31 July 2011 Last updated at 08:54 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Police jeep" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54357695apr226psnijeep.jpg" width=304> Police have appealed for witnesses to the assault A man has been assaulted by three men wielding iron bars in west Belfast. </P><P>The attack happened at Arundel Walk off the Grosvenor Road at about 2245 BST on Saturday night. </P><P>The victim was taken to hospital for treatment for a leg injury and bruising. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.</P><P>Anyone who has any information about what happened is asked to contact detectives at Grosvenor Road PSNI station or the Crimestoppers charity. </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14357587" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-82071548497199978432011-08-01T11:33:00.000-07:002011-08-01T11:33:00.189-07:00 27 July 2011 Last updated at 10:30 GMT Two men have been injured after being assaulted and robbed by a group of people in Portrush.</P><P>It happened at Causeway Street in the town at about 11:15 BST on Tuesday. Police said a number of people, both male and female, were involved.</P><P>It is believed one man suffered head injuries and the other man a laceration to his head. Neither's injuries are thought to be life-threatening.</P><P>Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14310232" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-60257163634686237432011-08-01T09:52:00.000-07:002011-08-01T09:52:00.463-07:00 31 July 2011 Last updated at 08:46 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Police cordon" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54357905cordon.jpg" width=304> Police cordoned off an area of Crossgar on Saturday morning A pipe bomb has been discovered in a County Down village after a security alert on Saturday.</P><P>People living near the scene of the alert at Drumnaconagher Road, Crossgar, were asked to leave their homes after a suspicious object was found.</P><P>Army bomb experts carried out a controlled explosion and confirmed it was a pipe bomb.</P><P>Meanwhile, the Army removed a suspected firearm at Blackstown Road in Crumlin on Friday evening. </P><P>A police spokesperson said the item was found wrapped in bed linen. </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14352899" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-24486660109326646342011-08-01T08:28:00.000-07:002011-08-01T08:28:00.455-07:00 30 July 2011 Last updated at 19:04 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Bobby Moffett" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54350765sxkbsmjj.gif" width=304> Bobby Moffett's murder has been blamed on the UVF A 55-year-old man arrested on Saturday by detectives investigating the murder of Bobby Moffett has been released without charge.</P><P>Police said he was detained in the north Belfast area on Saturday morning. </P><P>Mr Moffett, a former loyalist prisoner, was shot dead by two masked gunmen on the Shankill Road in May last year. </P><P>The International Monitoring Commission said the killing was sanctioned by the UVF. A number of people have been arrested but no-one has been charged. </P><P>The leader of the UVF-linked Progressive Unionist Party, Dawn Purvis, resigned from the party in protest at the murder. </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14353020" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-59214866240237973332011-08-01T06:47:00.000-07:002011-08-01T06:47:00.490-07:00 28 July 2011 Last updated at 16:11 GMT <IMG alt="Jim Fitzpatrick" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/48328490jimfitzpatrick.jpg"> By Jim Fitzpatrick BBC NI Politics Show presenter <IMG height=171 alt="Building site" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54338084011843589-1.jpg" width=304> Nama controls a number of property developments, some complete and others unfinished The Republic of Ireland's so-called bad bank, the National Asset Management Agency, has released details of properties it has repossessed. </P><P>But what does it tell us about the agency's impact north of the border?</P><P>Whenever the great property crash hit Ireland at the end of 2007, the Irish banks were stuck with billions of pounds of loans secured on property that was worth a lot less than those loans. </P><P>With so much bad debt the banks couldn't function, so the government created the National Asset Management Agency - Nama.</P><P>It relieved the banks of the burden, but passed it on to Irish taxpayers. </P><P>Now Nama manages billions of debt on a vast array of property connected to Irish banks in the Republic, Northern Ireland and further afield.</P><P>Previously Nama has said that it had taken over ?3.5bn of property loans in Northern Ireland. On Thursday we got a first glimpse of that. </P><P>The agency has published a list of properties whose developers they have put into receivership. There are houses, sites, a factory and even a pub.</P><P>Every county in Northern Ireland now has Nama-controlled properties. </P><P>The vast-majority - 49 - are in County Down. That's down to one developer whose properties feature for sale in the latest Belfast Telegraph property section. </P>Huge slump <P>Two full pages are from this Nama stable - you can pick up a shell apartment for ?40,000 or a seven bedroom home in Dromore, previously marketed for close to ?1m, for a mere ?400,000.</P><P>Why does this matter?</P><P>The property market in Northern Ireland is in a huge slump. Nama controls more property here than anyone else - by a mile.</P><P>The big worry for local politicians was that Nama might sell everything at a knock-down price. </P><P>That is not happening - because it is not in Nama's interests to do so. </P><P>But effectively Nama sets the level of the Northern Ireland property market so every move it makes is carefully watched and scrutinised. </P><P>Thursday's detail is just the tip of the iceberg as it includes only cases of enforcement action.</P><P>Many developers with multi-million pound loans are still trading away because Nama have judged that's the best chance they have of getting some money back at some stage.</P><P>So we have much, much more to learn about Nama and its ultimate impact on the value of not just these properties, but every home, office building, and piece of land in Northern Ireland. </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14332836" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-29276377670483730302011-08-01T05:46:00.000-07:002011-08-01T05:46:00.198-07:00 26 July 2011 Last updated at 13:46 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Bishop Street courthouse" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54278202courtbishopstreet226.jpg" width=304> Bishop Street courthouse A Londonderry man has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the city on Sunday night.</P><P>James Gallagher, 62, from St Columb's Wells, is accused of assaulting the girl at Bay Road.</P><P>His solicitor told Londonderry Magistrates' Court that his client said it was consensual and that he thought the girl was aged 17 or 18. </P><P>Bail was refused and the defendant was remanded in custody for a videolink hearing in three weeks' time. </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-14296990" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-78650404803145104872011-08-01T04:03:00.000-07:002011-08-01T04:03:00.550-07:00 29 July 2011 Last updated at 05:17 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Belfast City Cemetery" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54327349citycemetery.jpg" width=304> The headstone will go up in Belfast City Cemetery A teenager thought to have been the first victim of the Titanic has finally been given a headstone on his grave.</P><P>Samuel Scott, 15, fractured his skull whilst working on the ship in 1910. His body has since lain in an unmarked grave in Belfast City Cemetery.</P><P>However, a new headstone was unveiled there on Saturday as part of the Feile an Phobail festival. </P><P>A new children's book, Spirit Of The Titanic, used the teenager as its main character.</P><P>The book, published earlier this year, follows the boy's ghost as it haunts the decks of the ship during its voyage.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14334383" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-75687892338479811492011-08-01T02:38:00.000-07:002011-08-01T02:38:01.029-07:00 29 July 2011 Last updated at 17:38 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Mark McGovern" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54342604mcgovern226.jpg" width=304> Mark McGovern has been in a coma since the match The family of a gaelic footballer who has been in a coma since a match in the US last month want the opposing team to be suspended from all competitions. </P><P>Mark McGovern, 20, from Belcoo in Fermanagh, suffered a head injury in an off-the-ball incident in San Francisco. </P><P>His parents and three sisters have maintained a vigil at his hospital bedside for the last five weeks. </P><P>They claim the Celts, the team Mark was playing against, are not cooperating fully with the San Francisco police. </P><P>In a statement, the Celts said: "The San Francisco Celts continue to hold Mark McGovern and his family in their thoughts and prayers. </P><P>"The San Francisco Celts have been, and will continue to co-operate with all investigations regarding the incident."</P><P>A GAA spokesman said that the GAA felt it would be inappropriate to comment while there was still an ongoing investigation.</P><P>Mark's father, Danny, said he was saddened by what he said was a lack of co-operation from the Celts team.</P><P>"They're (the police) getting good co-operation from Mark's team but from the opposing team there's none of them coming up with information. </P><P>"They have videos and they're not bringing them up at all," Mr McGovern said.</P><P>"I have done my best this week to get them barred completely from playing football. </P><P>"They played a football match the following week after Mark's injury. </P>Continue reading the main story <BLOCKQUOTE readability="6">We're here every day, seven days a week sitting at his bedside being confident and being strong around him because we feel that he knows we are there”</P></BLOCKQUOTE>End Quote Sister of coma victim Mark McGovern "I do believe the president of the GAA is flying out to see Mark next Tuesday. We'll put pressure on him to get them suspended."</P><P>Mark arrived in the USA for a three-month stint with Ulster San Francisco the week before he was injured.</P><P>He was accompanied by two other members of his team Belcoo O'Rahilly's. The opposing Celts side is made up mostly of US-born players.</P><P><STRONG>'Signs of improvement'</STRONG></P><P>Mark was given immediate medical assistance at the scene after he was injured and put into a medically induced coma, from which he has yet to emerge.</P><P>Danny said he had shown slight signs of improvement.</P><P>"Mark has improved slightly. As they say in the hospital baby steps every day in the right direction," he said.</P><P>Mark's sister Connie said the family would stay with him until they could bring him home.</P><P>"We're here every day, seven days a week sitting at his bedside being confident and being strong around him because we feel that he knows we are there," she said.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14348152" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-63258172759549895852011-08-01T00:55:00.000-07:002011-08-01T00:55:00.364-07:00 27 July 2011 Last updated at 10:35 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Red Sky van" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/5428752052153202red-1.jpg" width=304> The sale of Red Sky's Bel-Air company has saved 60 jobs. A company within the troubled Red Sky construction group has been taken over. </P><P>Bel-Air Refrigeration, bought by Red Sky a few years ago, has been run by administrators since the whole group went into administration in April.</P><P>The acquisition by Belfast-based BI Electrical Services will safeguard 60 jobs within Bel-Air.</P><P>The Housing Executive terminated all its maintenance contracts with Red Sky amid allegations over the company's work practices.</P><P>BI Electrical Services (NI) Ltd, a specialist in commercial and industrial electrical installation contracts and maintenance, acquired the trade and assets of Bel-Air for an undisclosed sum </P><P>Managing director Ian Humphreys said the company intended to build on the 60 jobs saved.</P><P>He said Bel-Air had increased its order book in the past two months "in excess of ?1m with new works".</P><P>"Whilst Bel-Air has been acquired by new owners it will continue trading as normal. </P><P>"The acquisition of Bel-Air provides a strategic fit with our existing business, providing electrical services to the public and private sector across Northern Ireland. </P><P>He said the two companies would continue to trade independently.</P><P>Mark Montgomery of Bel-Air Services, who has worked for the company for over 20 years, said the acquisition provides a solid foundation for continued growth. </P><P>He said: "The acquisition secures the future of Bel-Air given that BI Electrical Services is a very well established business and there will be new opportunities that will arise as a result."</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14304406" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-70709089109392692392011-07-31T23:12:00.000-07:002011-07-31T23:12:00.716-07:00 30 July 2011 Last updated at 19:50 GMT Environment Minister Alex Attwood has vowed to help "save and protect" the listed Tyrone mill badly damaged in a fire on Saturday.</P><P>Fire crews battled for hours to contain the blaze which broke out at Herdman's Mill in Sion Mills in the early hours.</P><P>Fire crews were first alerted at about 0120 BST but the blaze later re-ignited and burned for several hours.</P><P>Mr Attwood said he would work to save the mill which featured in the BBC television series Restoration in 2003.</P><P>Last week, Ulster Bank appointed a receiver to the building.</P><P>The move ended more than 170 years of ownership for the Herdman family. </P><P>The former owners of the historic mill said they feared it may have been completely destroyed by the fire. </P><P>Forty fire officers were needed to deal with the blaze which was brought under control in the late afternoon. </P><P>Fire-fighters, who used two high-reach appliances while battling the blaze, are expected to remain at the scene until late on Saturday.</P><P>Mr Attwood said: "Our built heritage is a vital cog in our tourism industry and this fire greatly concerns me.</P><P>"The fire at the Mill damages a jewel in our built heritage... I have already raised my concern with my staff at the Environment Agency and other officials about the increase in fires at important at-risk buildings this year and we are urgently examining what needs to be done." </P><P>Senior fire officer Mark Deeney said: "It was a quite difficult fire to fight. Because of the previous fires, the building was very structurally unsound.</P>'Access problems' <P>"We have had a minor collapse at the rear of the building overnight because of the previous fire.</P><P>"You can also see the fire has spread into the roof area which provides us with problems for access."</P><P>It had been hoped to redevelop the 60-acre site which dominates the village. </P><P>Celia Ferguson, a member of the Herdman family and a trustee of the Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, said she was "watching the most important industrial building in Ireland being destroyed by fire". </P><P>She said it was because of the "neglect of funders to do anything with the building". </P><P>She added: "It's a tragedy not just for Sion Mills, but for the whole northwest."</P><P>Strabane District Council chairman Brian McMahon said there was a "palpable sense of loss in the local community" at the devastation.</P><P>The Sinn Fein councillor, speaking from the scene, said: ""While the full extent of the damage will not become clear for a few days, this fire has undoubtedly delivered a setback in the efforts to redevelop the mill and the 60-acre site it stands on for the socio-economic benefit of the people of this area.</P><P>"However, this setback will hopefully reinforce everyone's determination to forge ahead."</P><P>Herdman's Mill, the last wet-spinning flax mill in Ireland, was opened during the potato famine. </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14352895" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-11332085078875481162011-07-31T21:57:00.000-07:002011-07-31T21:57:00.154-07:00 30 July 2011 Last updated at 15:50 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Police vehicle" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54354885psnijeep226.jpg" width=304> Police are seeking two men after a woman suffered a serious sexual assault in north Armagh.</P><P>The men, who were masked, entered her house in Drumbeg South in the Monbrief area of Craigavon at about 22:10 BST on Thursday and assaulted the woman.</P><P>She was taken to hospital for treatment after the attack.</P><P>Police have appealed for anyone with information about the assault to contact them.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14354692" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-15068857140003562642011-07-31T20:32:00.000-07:002011-07-31T20:32:00.104-07:00 27 July 2011 Last updated at 08:00 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="enniskillen road sign" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54287757enniskillen.jpg" width=304> As a 'gateway' to the west, the town has suffered from congestion Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has admitted his department does not have the money to build the A4 bypass. </P><P>He was speaking after announcing the preferred route for the proposed A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass.</P><P>The minister said his job was to have schemes agreed so that when funds became available work could proceed.</P><P>The plans are open for public consultation until the end of August.</P><P>The route chosen by the minister would lead from the A4 Belfast Road, in the vicinity of the Killyhevlin Industrial Estate, to the A4 Sligo Road, in the vicinity of Ashwoods Road.</P><P>It will cross the A509 Derrylin Road en route and extend over four kilometres. </P><P>A shorter bypass from the A4 Dublin Road to the A509 Derrylin Road is also a consideration. </P><P>Mr Kennedy said he had to be "realistic". </P><P>"I have to be absolutely honest and say, as of today, I do not have the money to fund the Enniskillen bypass," he said.</P>'Competing priorities' <P>"That is not to say that I, and my officials shouldn't be continuing to bring forward projects and schemes, to put in place the necessary planning permissions and the statutory approvals, so that when money becomes available we can act quickly and proceed with a project of this nature." </P><P>The minister said there were "competing priorities" within the entire executive. </P><P>"As regional development minister, it is my job to look strategically as to where we want to be in a number of years, not just to say we don't have any money, we can't do anything, but to look forward to the opportunities that are provided by a scheme of this nature."</P><P>Mr Kennedy said that when funds became available and if the project went ahead, it would provide "major benefits" in terms of improving safety and journey times for traffic currently passing through the town.</P><P>Information on the preferred route corridor for the Enniskillen Southern Bypass along with feedback forms and Roads Service contact details will be available at three public display venues - Enniskillen Town Hall, the public library and the Roads Service Section Office at Castle Barracks.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14299898" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-80742581288809600012011-07-31T19:05:00.000-07:002011-07-31T19:05:00.752-07:00 <IMG height=300 alt="Nigel Worthington's Northern Ireland will face matches against Russia and Portugal" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54356216nw466.jpg" width=466> Nigel Worthington's Northern Ireland will face matches against Russia and Portugal Manager Nigel Worthington believes the World Cup draw has handed Northern Ireland an exciting challenge.</P><P>Worthington's men are in qualifying Group F with Portugal, Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.</P><P>"It looks reasonably tough, but it could have been worse. There is a fair bit of travelling but you have to deal with that," said the NI manager.</P><P>"Russia have been a fantastic team for years, Israel are a tough nut to crack and we know the stars Portugal have."</P><P>The Republic of Ireland are in Group C with Germany, Sweden, Austria, the Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan.</P><P>The winners of the nine European groups qualify automatically and the eight best runners-up play off for the four places remaining.</P><P>Worthington added: "We will look at the home and away games against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan as ones we can take maximum points from. It is never easy until you have actually achieved that.</P><P>"Then it is a matter of taking as many as you can from the other three teams in the group.</P><P>"It is a brand new competition and a great thing for the supporters to look forward to."</P><br /><p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/sport1/hi/football/14354469.stm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-12836873254371523302011-07-31T17:34:00.000-07:002011-07-31T17:34:00.340-07:00 31 July 2011 Last updated at 09:18 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="David Norris " src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54357932norris.jpg" width=304> Mr Norris has vowed to continue his presidential campaign despite the problems Irish senator David Norris has vowed to continue his presidential campaign despite admitting his chances of being nominated are "slim". </P><P>It has emerged that Mr Norris wrote to an Israeli court pleading for clemency for his former partner Ezra Yizhak who was accused of the statutory rape of a 15-year-old Palestinian boy in 1992. </P><P>The letter said his former partner was a "good and moral person". </P><P>A number of people have resigned from Mr Norris' campaign team. </P><P>Written on parliamentary notepaper, the letter said that Yizhak had been lured into a "carefully prepared trap" and had unwisely pleaded guilty to the charges. </P><P>Mr Norris told the Sunday Independent that he remained absolutely committed to his campaign but it was now "in serious trouble".</P><P>He was embroiled in a separate controversy at the end of May over an interview in which he expressed views on paedophilia and incest. </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14357589" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-71532329033253552032011-07-31T16:23:00.000-07:002011-07-31T16:23:00.154-07:00 27 July 2011 Last updated at 11:35 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Steven Agnew" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54294099stevenagnew.jpg" width=304> Steven Agnew is resigning his seat on North Down Borough Council Green Party MLA Steven Agnew has announced he is stepping down from North Down Borough Council.</P><P>Mr Agnew said he was doing so to "focus fully on representing the people of North Down in the Northern Ireland Assembly".</P><P>He represented the Abbey Ward and will now be replaced on the council by Green Party activist Dr John Barry.</P><P>Mr Agnew said the party was fulfilling its manifesto promise not to engage in "double-jobbing". </P><P>"I was very clear prior to the election that should I be elected to both council and the assembly I would pass on my council seat to the best qualified person within the Green Party to represent the people of Abbey. </P><P>"I am very confident that Dr John Barry will be a strident political advocate for the area," he said.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14310239" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-63521114100587554852011-07-31T15:08:00.000-07:002011-07-31T15:08:00.147-07:00 28 July 2011 Last updated at 11:03 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="The Carvill Group was behind a planned redevelopment of the Sirocco Works site in Belfast" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54316403cgroup.jpg" width=304> The Carvill Group was behind a planned redevelopment of the Sirocco Works site in Belfast One of Northern Ireland's leading property firms owed banks around ?83m when it was placed into administration in May.</P><P>The details are contained in a report by the administrators of the Carvill Group.</P><P>The report said the Ulster Bank and Northern Bank can expect "a significant shortfall" because of the fall in the value of the firm's assets.</P><P>Smaller unsecured creditors are unlikely to get any of what they are owed.</P><P>They are owed a total of ?2.3m.</P><P>They include a County Antrim plastering firm owed ?80,000 and a Belfast architect who is owed ?94,000. The transport company Translink is owed ?118,000.</P><P>The administrator said Carvill had seen "unprecedented" growth between 1995 and 2007, but that the business came under increasing pressure from 2007 when the property price bubble burst.</P><P>The collapse in house sales reduced Carvill's income while interest payments on the firm's loans continued to mount.</P>Cost cutting <P>The administrator singled out the cost of the Sirocco site in Belfast as being particularly significant. The firm bought it in 2006 for a reported ?40m.</P><P>The report laid out how the Carvill directors fought to cut costs through redundancies and three rounds of pay cuts.</P><P>However, in the months before the administration the business was operating at the limit of its ?10m Northern Bank overdraft with no prospect of the limit being increased.</P><P>Northern Bank had also provided the loans for the Embankment apartment development at Stranmillis in south Belfast and a small site in the Donegall Road area.</P><P>Ulster Bank funded the Sirocco deal and the development of the Woodbrook 'eco village' near Lisburn.</P><P>Carvill also had other significant properties in Dundonald, Dunmurry and Portadown.</P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14327165" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-69621758740195615562011-07-31T13:56:00.000-07:002011-07-31T13:56:00.795-07:00 29 July 2011 Last updated at 10:14 GMT <IMG height=171 alt="Woman researcher analyses cancer samples in a biochemistry laboratory" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54337727tv003935811.jpg" width=304> The benefits of breast screening are being scrutinised One woman tells BBC News Online how going for a cancer screening saved her life.</P><P>Patricia Kearns from Banbridge was diagnosed with breast cancer after being screened in 2009.</P><P>"In October 2008 my sister put both our names down in Gordon's Chemists as it was breast cancer awareness month," she said.</P><P>Three months later she got a call from Action Cancer to arrange an appointment. </P><P>She went to Action Cancer in February and had a mammogram. </P><P>Within a week she was recalled: "I had no lumps or history." </P><P>"I attended the City Hospital in Belfast where I had five little white pin dots, which they had picked up, removed," she said.</P><P>"I was told I could have cancer in any part of my body within a year, five years or 10 years down the line. </P><P>"In May I went and had a mastectomy and reconstruction where I had six lymph nodes removed and three of those had cancer cells."</P>'Shock' <P>Patricia had more surgery in June to get the rest of the lymph nodes removed. A month later she began a course of chemotherapy.</P><IMG height=171 alt="patricia kearns" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54337675photo.jpg" width=304> Patricia Kearns said her story could have been very different if she had not gone for a screening <P>"To be fit and well and not worried about anything, it was such a shock to my system," she said. </P><P>"I have to be really grateful to Action Cancer that they have that service for all women to take up because my story could have been a lot different."</P><P>She said a lot of her friends have since gone for screening because of her story. </P><P>"I was very very lucky," she said.</P><P>I have met girls who in their 30s were diagnosed with breast cancer. Even women in their late 30s and early 40s who have been diagnosed as well, so early screening definitely pays off."</P><P>She thinks women who do not take up the offer of free screening are "scared and afraid to be told they have cancer".</P><P>Patricia urged them to reconsider not attending.</P><P>"It is a shock to the system, but there are organisations there to help you through the different stages. I am grateful for the help and support I received," she said.</P><P>"My story could have been a lot different." </P><br /><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-14338139" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-81359915410733670412011-07-31T12:37:00.000-07:002011-07-31T12:37:00.701-07:00 <IMG height=300 alt="Kildare's Eamonn Callaghan fends off the challenge of Donegal opponent Paddy McGrath" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54355542callaghanmcgrath466.jpg" width=466> Kildare's Eamonn Callaghan fends off the challenge of Donegal opponent Paddy McGrath Donegal are through to the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Championship after a sensational win over Kildare in Dublin.</P><P>The Ulster champions scored the last four points in extra-time to snatch a barely believable victory.</P><P>Donegal substitute Christy Toye got the only goal of the game and Kevin Cassidy landed the match-winning point.</P><P>Kildare will feel they should have won in regular time as they had a goal controversially disallowed for a square ball when three up in the second half.</P><P>They were three points up early in the second half when Tomas O'Connor netted after John Doyle's effort had come off an upright.</P><P>It did not count and soon afterwards Toye struck his goal.</P><P>Toye, plagued by injuries in recent seasons, had been on the pitch for just a few seconds having come on as a substitute for Colm McFadden.</P>Continue reading the main story Kildare free-taker Eoghan O'Flaherty was coached by Ireland rugby star Ronan O'Gara before the gameDonegal manager Jim McGuinness played for the county when they won their only All-Ireland title in 1992<P>Donegal captain Michael Murphy, who had been a doubt with a hamstring injury, did not start the match, but came on in the 26th minute.</P><P>Eoghan O'Flaherty, who took on free-taking duties after Doyle sent two wide early on, scored three points in the first half and Padraig O'Neill and Eamonn Callaghan were also on target.</P><P>Donegal scored through 17-year-old Patrick McBrearty, Rory Kavanagh and Mark McHugh.</P><P>An O'Flaherty free put Kildare 0-6 to 0-3 ahead and then came the disputed decision when referee David Coldrick disallowed what Kildare felt was a perfectly legitimate goal.</P><P>That verdict looked all the more crucial when Donegal scored three points in a row - through sub Murphy, Ryan Bradley and Dermot Molloy - to level the contest.</P><P>Kildare replacement Alan Smith edged Kildare ahead but then Donegal got the goal when Toye shot home after being found in space.</P><P>It looked like the Ulster county were going to defy the bookies' odds but they gave away to much possession and allowed Kildare back.</P><P>O'Flaherty slotted over a free from well out on the left and James Kavanagh pulled off an audacious point form play to leave just one point in it.</P><P>Kildare got a free in stoppage time and O'Flaherty kept his nerve to sent them match into extra-time.</P><P>Kieran McGeeney's men scored the first three points in the added period through Ronan Sweeney, Gary White and Smith while Karl Lacey responded for Donegal.</P><P>Emmett Bolton pointed for Kildare but back came Donegal again, reducing the deficit to one after two scores from talisman Murphy.</P><P>Toye levelled the match and then with seconds left Cassidy grabbed the victory.</P><P>In the semi-finals, Donegal will play either Dublin or Tyrone.</P><br /><p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/14242733.stm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4755737467604241077.post-83571468616984516032011-07-31T10:54:00.000-07:002011-07-31T10:54:00.862-07:00 <IMG height=300 alt="Tyrone's Sean Cavanagh goes on the attack as Cathal Cregg of Roscommon attempts to charge the ball down" src="http://risioja.allalla.com/blogs/54353091cavanaghcregg.jpg" width=466> Tyrone's Sean Cavanagh goes on the attack as Cathal Cregg of Roscommon attempts to charge the ball down at Croke Park Tyrone will face Dublin in a mouth-watering All-Ireland football quarter-final on 6 August after an 11-point win over Roscommon at Croke Park.</P><P>Outsiders Roscommon had led by four in the first half after a mistake by Tyrone keeper Pascal McConnell led to Karl Mannion scoring a goal.</P><P>Tyrone hit back quickly with Sean Cavanagh firing in a low shot after a powerful run through the middle.</P><P>Cavanagh and Mark Donnelly got late goals as Tyrone finished strongly.</P><P>Apart from the goals, Mickey Harte's men outscored the Connacht runners-up 10 points to six in the second half with a workmanlike performance.</P><P>However, they know they will probably have to up their game when they return to headquarters for the clash with Dublin.</P>Continue reading the main story This was the first time Tyrone and Roscommon had met in the ChampionshipTyrone had nine different scorers in the second half<P>Roscommon went into the game 11-2 outsiders but there was never more than a single point between the sides until Mannion's 26th-minute goal.</P><P>Cathal Cregg's high dropping ball should have been dealt with by keeper McConnell but he punched it straight to Mannion who blasted into the net.</P><P>Tyrone, however, responded with a goal of their own just two minutes later.</P><P>Four-times All Star Cavanagh set off in a charge through the middle and finished with a strong, low left-foot shot.</P><P>Cavanagh got the last point of the half, his third overall, to give Tyrone a slender 1-9 to 1-8 interval advantage.</P><P>Tyrone's other points had come from Kevin Hughes, Kyle Coney (2), Brian McGuigan, Peter Harte and Colm Cavanagh.</P><P>On target for Roscommon were Cregg, Donie Shine (3), Senan Kilbride (3), and Darren McDermott.</P><P>Tyrone were fortunate to be in the lead as Roscommon had put eight attempts wide, including seemingly straightforward frees by Shine.</P><P>Mannion landed a point from play to level matters early in the second half but Tyrone rattled off five points without reply through Brian McGuigan, Mark Donnelly, Philip Jordan, Harte and Sean O'Neill.</P><P>McDermott, Shine and Mannion kept Roscommon hopes alive while Owen Mulligan, a half-time substitute, scored for Tyrone.</P><P>Colm Cavanagh, Conor Gormley and two Harte frees swelled Tyrone's tally before Cavanagh went through for his second goal.</P><P>Goalkeeper Geoffrey Claffey was soon picking the ball out of the net for a third time as Donnelly put a gloss on the scoreline.</P><br /><p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/14354464.stm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View the original article here</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0