Northern Ireland News for December 2006

UK National News, Dec 15, 2006
Fifth victim identified in Suffolk murder investigation
Fifth victim identified in Suffolk murder investigation Police investigating a series of murders in Suffolk have identified the fifth victim as 29-year-old Annette Nicholls. Her body was one of two ...
UK National News, Dec 15, 2006
Government issues Christmas mini moto warning
The government is urging parent considering buying a mini motorbike for their child for Christmas to stop and think before they buy. The Department for Transport and Auto Cycle Union have both called...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2006
Drink driving campaign figures released
Over 100 drink drivers have been caught each week during the current PSNI Christmas anti-drink driving campaign. A message saying 'we warned you' was issued by police as they released that 217 drive...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2006
Minister welcomes knife amnesty
Criminal Justice Minister, David Hanson has welcomed the news that another 600 potentially lethal weapons have been taken off the streets of Northern Ireland during the second knife amnesty which ende...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 15, 2006
Belfast marks year of celebrations with a City Hall party
The biggest party Belfast has ever seen is drawing to an end – and it will do so in style. Over the past 15 months, three million people have taken part in more than 1,000 events in all corners of th...
UK National News, Dec 14, 2006
High Court reject de Menzes case
The family of the Brazilian shot dead by police officers has been dealt a blow by the High Court rejection of the case brought against officers involved in the shooting. Jean Charkes de Menezes was s...
UK National News, Dec 14, 2006
Gallantry awards for British troops
A Victoria Cross has been awarded posthumously to a Corporal who saved seven comrades in Afghanistan. The VC, the highest military honour, was given to Cpl Bryan Budd, 29, from the 3rd Battallion the...
UK National News, Dec 14, 2006
Kenyan rape report concludes 'insufficient evidence'
A Royal Military Police special inquiry into the key findings of a three-year investigation into allegations of rape by British soldiers whilst training in Kenya, has concluded that there is insuffici...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 14, 2006
Convicted rapist's case to be reviewed
The case of a convicted rapist who is currently on hunger strike, is to be reviewed by the High Court, it has today emerged. Oswald Brown has embarked on a hunger strike, which has lasted for 54 day...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 14, 2006
Ombudsman to investigate prisoner's death
The prison Ombudsman is to investigate the death of a prisoner who was found dead in his cell in County Londonderry. Thomas Mackenzie Quinn, 45, from Belfast was found dead in Magilligan Prison yeste...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 14, 2006
Four charged over ammunition find
Four men have appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court later today charged in connection with serious crime in north Belfast. John Scott, 18, of St James's Road, Christopher Notarantonio, 35, of Avoca C...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 14, 2006
Government review on NI housing
The government has today called for ideas on how to tackle the ever-increasing coast of houses in Northern Ireland. Sir John Semple today published his initial 'Review into Affordable Housing', which...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 14, 2006
Alliance Party wins ex-mayors seat
The Alliance Party has won a by-election to replace the former shamed DUP mayor of Coleraine, Dessie Stewart. Barney Fitzpatrick won the majority of the votes, beating representatives from both the U...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 14, 2006
Optician investigated for cheating health board
Police are investigating an optician who is believed to have cheated the Health Service out of around £110,000. The locum optician, who has a practice in Scotland, examined the eyes of around 645 el...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 14, 2006
Minister welcomes all-Ireland communication services
Enterprise Minister, Maria Eagle, has today welcomed the announcement that an all-island radio spectrum will be released next year. The announcement of the all-island radio spectrum was made by the t...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 14, 2006
Flight forced to return to Belfast
A flight from Belfast to Southampton had to make an emergency landing after the aircraft experienced difficulties yesterday evening. The incident happened just before 6.30pm when the Flybe flight con...
UK National News, Dec 14, 2006
Clothes and driver sought in Suffolk Strangler case
Suffolk Police have announced that their inquires are currently focused on the whereabouts of the women's clothing. All were found naked, and police are trying to ascertain if certain items found belo...
UK National News, Dec 14, 2006
Fathers scrapped in IVF protocols
The government is to remove the requirement for a father when fertility clinics are deciding on IVF. This opens the way for lesbian couples and single mothers to be deemed parents under the legislati...
UK National News, Dec 14, 2006
Blair questioned over peerage nominations
Prime Minister Tony Blair has been questioned concerning the cash for honours probe. A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that Mr Blair had not been cautioned and had not been accompanied by a law...
UK National News, Dec 14, 2006
Losses force Post Office closures
Around 2,500 of the UK's post offices are expected to close by 2009 due to financial losses. The Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling today told MPs that the cuts were needed because of subs...
UK National News, Dec 13, 2006
Government toughens stance on child maintenance
Proposals for a tough new organisation to enforce child maintenance have been unveiled by Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton. The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC) will replac...
UK National News, Dec 13, 2006
MoD names Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan
The Ministry of Defence has named the Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday as 23-year-old Richard Watson. Marine Watson, of 42 Commando Royal Marines, was part of a patrol in the north of No...
UK National News, Dec 13, 2006
Ban sought on child abuse images
The government is to seek a ban on computer-generated images of child abuse, Home Secretary John Reid has announced. Mr Reid, who was chairing his first meeting of the Task Force on Child Protection ...
UK National News, Dec 13, 2006
Free cash machines for low-income areas
More than 600 new non-charging cash machines are to be provided in Britain's poorer areas, the government has announced. The move comes following a deal agreed between the Parliamentary ATM Working G...
UK National News, Dec 13, 2006
Bryson receives honorary OBE
Bestselling author Bill Bryson has received an honorary Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell for his contribution to literature. Bill Bryson published his first book ...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 13, 2006
Sinn Fein meet with Chief Constable
During today's meeting between a Sinn Fein delegation and Chief Constable Hugh Orde, Gerry Adams said that he believed that it was possible for the deadlock over the political issue to be resolved wit...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 13, 2006
Cross border search for murder gang
Police on both sides of the border are searching for an armed gang of up to four men, believed to be responsible for the death of a man in County Louth. A number of other people were also injured dur...
UK National News, Dec 13, 2006
'Massive' response to prostitute murders appeal
Suffolk Police have announced that they have received a "massive" response to their appeal for information over the killings of three prostitutes. Police said that over 2,000 calls had been received ...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 13, 2006
Senior UUP member to step down
Senior Ulster Unionist member Dermot Nesbitt has today revealed that he will not be seeking re-election to the Stormont Assembly when it reconvenes in March. Mr Nesbitt, the Assembly member for South...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 13, 2006
Policing Board hosts older people groups at its public meeting
During a public meeting earlier today of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, members of the Board and members of the public heard a report on the police response to crime against older people. Board...