Northern Ireland News for April 2009

Northern Ireland News, Apr 30, 2009
High Court Rules Loyalist Funding Cut 'Error'
A decision by NI Executive Minister, Margaret Ritchie, to axe funding for loyalists has been slapped down by the High Court. As MLAs seek separate legal advice over actions undertaken by the NI Educa...
UK National News, Apr 30, 2009
UK Troops Honoured As Combat Operations End In Iraq
The Defence Secretary, John Hutton, has attended a memorial service in Basra to honour the 179 British personnel killed during the six-year conflict in Iraq. Mr Hutton took part in the ceremony at th...
Recruitment News, Apr 30, 2009
Investment In NI Jobs Pays Off
A total of 140 new jobs are on the way for NI as two quite diverse companies - one in Belfast and one in Londonderry - go on a recruitment drive. Home furnishings company Dunelm Mill is to create aro...
Recruitment News, Apr 30, 2009
Shaws Workers Vote For Strike
Employees at the 16 outlets of Shaws department stores have today voted for strike action against cost saving measures. Worker's union Mandate claims the introduction of cost-saving measures by the c...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 30, 2009
Peter Robinson 'Unapologetic' For Recruiting Family
First Minister Peter Robinson has responded to claims of nepotism, suggesting his very life depended on employing people he could trust during the height of the Troubles. Mr Robinson, who employees ...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 30, 2009
Murder Accused Wins Right To Challenge 'Surveillance'
A high-profile republican accused of murdering two soldiers has been granted permission by the High Court to challenge the prison service's silence about what he suspects is covert bugging while in cu...
UK National News, Apr 30, 2009
Pandemic Level Alert Now One Step Below Global
The World Health Organisation has increased the official alert level of pandemic for the second time this week. WHO Director, Margaret Chan, announced last night that the alert level would go up to ...
UK National News, Apr 30, 2009
Met Pays Protesters £85k Damages
Scotland Yard has paid £85,000 damages to five protesters for assault and false imprisonment, following a protest outside a London embassy. A letter of apology has been written from the Metropolitan ...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 30, 2009
Dublin Flight 'Quarantined' As Swine Flu Fears Spread
As a special 24-hour swine flu helpline was being set up this week to allay public fears of the potentially deadly virus in Northern Ireland, there was a major alert underway in Dublin. Some 166 pass...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 30, 2009
Weir Facelift Is Latest Executive Boost To Construction
A major refurbishment of the iconic Lagan Weir is to get underway shortly. Highlighting the Stormont Executive's commitment to deliver the plans and priorities which it set in its Budget, the work wi...
UK National News, Apr 30, 2009
BAE Systems To Axe 500 UK Jobs
Britain's largest engineering company is to axe around 500 jobs and close three sites, it was announced today. BAE Systems will shut the three factories at Telford, Shropshire; Leeds and Guildford, S...
UK National News, Apr 30, 2009
Four More Staff Sacked Over Baby P failings
Four more people have been sacked by Haringey Council for failings in the care of the child named only as Baby P, it has emerged. Deputy Head of the Children and Families Department, Cecelia Hitchen ...
UK National News, Apr 30, 2009
Police Time Wasters Will be 'Dealt With'
Police in West Yorkshire have warned time wasters in the region they will be found out and dealt with. Officers in Kirklees said they recently issued three people from the same street in Holmfirth wi...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 30, 2009
Investment In NI Jobs Pays Off
A total of 140 new jobs are on the way for NI as two quite diverse companies - one in Belfast and one in Londonderry - go on a recruitment drive. Home furnishings company Dunelm Mill is to create aro...
UK National News, Apr 30, 2009
House Prices Fall By 0.4% in April
The price of a typical house fell by 0.4% in April according to the latest figures by the Nationwide. April's decline leaves the average price of a house at £151,861, down 15% from a year ago. Comme...
UK National News, Apr 30, 2009
Countries Join To Fight Benefit Fraud
The Department for Work and Pensions will today sign an historic arrangement with five other countries to enhance cooperation on tackling benefit fraud. This type of fraud costs the UK taxpayer £800...
Business News, Apr 30, 2009
Todd's Rallies Success
A Co Tyrone-based outdoor activity centre Toddsleap.com is enjoying a major surge in export business with help from Invest Northern Ireland. Offering driving experiences such as rally-style and 4x4 t...
UK National News, Apr 30, 2009
Consultation Launched To Tighten Regulations For Wheel Clamping Businesses
A major new consultation has begun into plans to subject rogue wheel clamping businesses to tough new regulations, the Home Office announced today. The public consultation, which sets out proposals f...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 30, 2009
Commercial Drivers 'Worst Offenders' On Smoking Ban
Just under 90% of NI people being fined for breaking the smoking ban in Belfast are commercial vehicle drivers. Van drivers, taxi drivers and other motorists - those who make their living behind the ...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 30, 2009
Todds Leaps To Success
A Co Tyrone-based outdoor activity centre Toddsleap.com is enjoying a major surge in export business with help from Invest Northern Ireland. Offering driving experiences such as rally-style and 4x4 t...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 30, 2009
Accolade For Top NI Post Offices
Three Northern Ireland post offices have been declared as being among the 'Best Post Office' branches after clinching the titles in the regional heats. The three branches in Antrim, Finaghy and Rasha...
UK National News, Apr 30, 2009
Other News In Brief
Mother Remanded Over Four-Year-Old's Murder A 22-year-old woman has been remanded in custody after appearing at Wirral Magistrates' Court on suspicion of the murder of her daughter, aged four. Chloe ...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 30, 2009
'Birthday Party' Celebrates Poetry of Seamus Heaney
The Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry today celebrates the 70th birthday of the renowned Nobel prize poet (pictured here) with a special literary evening. The 'birthday party' will involve readings an...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 30, 2009
Other NI News In Brief
Mexico Off Limits To Holidaymakers Travel agents across Northern Ireland are this week facing an influx of customers hoping to reschedule holidays and honeymoons after some of the main tour operators...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2009
NI Job Creation Agency Reveals Successes
Although the official job creation agency, Invest NI promoted almost 6,500 new jobs in the last financial year, its client companies also announced almost 3,500 redundancies over the same period. In ...
Business News, Apr 29, 2009
Treasury Boss Briefed On Mutual Society Funds
A high level meeting has taken place today to discuss developments relating to the winding-up of the Presbyterian Mutual Society, and the loss of funds by its many investors. NI Finance Minister Nige...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2009
Ten Cases Of 'Swine Flu' Test Negative
Eleven possible cases of swine flu - identified as a cross-over infection from pigs to humans - have been investigated in Northern Ireland but 10 have already tested negative, while the result from th...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2009
Three More Swine Flu Cases Confirmed In The UK
Three more cases of swine flu have been confirmed today in Britain, taking the number of those treated for the disease to five. A 12-year-old girl is among those who have contracted the virus after v...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2009
Takeaway Delivery Guise Used By Antrim Gunmen
Gunmen posed as takeaway delivery men before overpowering the wife of slain Templepatrick man Geoffrey Kerr, the police have said. More details have now emerged about the fatal Antrim shooting, whic...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2009
Mexico Confirms Just Seven Deaths From Swine Flu
The Mexican Health Secretary, José Ángel Córdova, has said that only seven deaths - out of the supposed 159 fatalities - have been confirmed as being caused by the swine flu virus. Also, according to...