Northern Ireland News for March 2013

Northern Ireland News, Mar 28, 2013
Emergency Aid Delivered To Farmers
The NI assembly agricultural committee is to hold an emergency meeting to look at the damage caused to farms due to the heavy snow. Two RAF Chinooks and two helicopters from the Air Corps are deliver...
UK National News, Mar 28, 2013
Record High For Scotland's Renewable Energy
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has said Scotland generated 7% more renewable energy in 2012 than the previous year. In its latest report, it said 14,600 Gigawatt hours were gener...
UK National News, Mar 28, 2013
UK House Prices Increase
Latest figures from the Nationwide have revealed UK house prices in March increased by 0.8% when compared to a year earlier. The building society added that this was the first annual increase since ...
UK National News, Mar 28, 2013
Inquest Begins Into Tycoon's Death
An inquest has opened into the death of Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky who was found dead at his Berkshire home at the weekend. A post-mortem examination was carried out and found 67-year-old Mr Be...
Business News, Mar 28, 2013
New Initiative Announced To Help SMEs
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced a new initiative by Invest Northern Ireland to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) access funding. The Finance Voucher initiative will provide sup...
UK National News, Mar 28, 2013
Man Found Guilty Of £79k Lottery Fraud
A shop worker has been found guilty of trying to con a lottery syndicate out of more than £79,000. Imran Pervais, 26, was said to have misled a group after their winning ticket matched five balls and...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 28, 2013
Westlink Closed Due To Pipe Bomb
The Westlink and part of the M1 motorway have been closed after a pipe bomb was discovered at Broadway roundabout on Thursday morning. Army bomb squad officers are at the scene and motorists have bee...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 28, 2013
Mary Peters Track Re-Opens
Belfast is striding into the future with today's re-opening of the Mary Peters Track at Malone which has undergone a £3 million refurbishment. The upgrade includes a new eight-lane track, a revamped ...
UK National News, Mar 28, 2013
Fresh Technical Problems For RBS Customers
A fresh wave of technical problems saw RBS customers unable to withdraw cash or access their online bank accounts for several hours. The issues began on Wednesday evening and come less than a year a...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 28, 2013
Ulster Bank Hit By Another Technical Glitch
Ulster Bank customers were left unable to access mobile banking following another technical problem. In a statement the bank, which is part of the RBS Group, said: "The service is back up and running...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 28, 2013
Security Alert Continues In Rosslea
A security alert near Rosslea, County Fermanagh, is still ongoing. Security forces are investigating a beer keg, which was described as having wires sticking out of it, was found on the Cloagh Road o...
UK National News, Mar 28, 2013
Man Given Life Sentence For Murdering Parents
A 46-year-old man has been jailed for life after being convicted of killing his parents. Following a five-week trial, Mr Seddon was convicted of murdering his father Robert (68) and his mother Patric...
Recruitment News, Mar 28, 2013
Nypro Healthcare To Create 200 New Jobs
Taoiseach Enda Kenny together with Richard Bruton, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, has announced that Nypro Healthcare is to establish an additional state of the art medical device manufac...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 28, 2013
BBC Staff Strike Over Job Cuts And Bullying
Easter BBC schedules will be disrupted after a walk-out today, Thursday, by journalists and their broadcasting colleagues against the damaging cost-cutting programme imposed by management. BBC NUJ me...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 28, 2013
Two Homes Damaged In South Belfast Blaze
Two homes have been damaged in a blaze in south Belfast. The fire is believed to have broke out in the attic of a property on the Upper Lisburn Road just after 11.15am on Wednesday. The fire also sp...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 28, 2013
Flag Protestor Jamie Bryson Granted Bail
Union flag protestor Jamie Bryson has been granted bail. The 23-year-old, who has spent almost a month behind bars, faces six charges on the ongoing flags dispute. He has been refused bail in the Hi...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 28, 2013
Other News In Brief
Cardiovascular Framework Revised Health Minister Edwin Poots has said a revised framework will further improve services for people who suffer from cardiovascular disease.
 The Minister w...
UK National News, Mar 28, 2013
Service Held As UK's Oldest Prison Closes
The UK's oldest working prison is to close today, with a service taking place to mark the event. The prison in Shepton Mallet was one of seven closures announced by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in J...
UK National News, Mar 28, 2013
Pensioners In Hospital Following Gas Explosion
Two people have been taken to hospital following a gas explosion at a house in Callender. A 77-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman were rescued from the house at Murdiston Avenue at around 6am, by t...
UK National News, Mar 28, 2013
Oil Consortium Invests £330m In North Sea
More than £330m is to be invested in an appraisal drilling programme at Clair, West Scotland. The consortium of oil companies hope the investment will help further develop the North Sea field. BP ...
UK National News, Mar 28, 2013
Other News In Brief
Call To Delay The Launch Of NHS 111 GP leaders have urged health minister Earl Howe and NHS Commissioning Board chief executive Sir David Nicholson to delay the launch of NHS 111. BMA GPs com...
Business News, Mar 28, 2013
Businesses Urged To Adopt Renewable Sources Of Energy
Invest Northern Ireland and Manufacturing NI have recently launched a guide to encourage companies to improve energy efficiency and consider adopting renewable energy technologies. The publication, c...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 27, 2013
AIB Records €2.8bn Loss In 2012
Allied Irish Banks, the parent company of Northern Irish bank First Trust, has announced an operating loss of €2.8bn for 2012. There was a €2.9bn (5%) growth in customer accounts in 2012, despite the...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 27, 2013
Queen's Research 'Most Important Of 21st Century'
Research by Queen's University scientists which could produce non-polluting alternatives to conventional solvents has been named the 'most important British innovation of the 21st Century'. The work ...
Business News, Mar 27, 2013
Northern Ireland Spin Out Funds Topped Up
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced an extra £4million for two Invest Northern Ireland Access to Finance (NISPO) funds. The funds are managed by E-Synergy. Arlene Foster said: "Both of t...
Recruitment News, Mar 27, 2013
Council Announces New Apprenticeship Scheme
Belfast City Council has announced a major new apprentice scheme with 10 places available, together with details of 16 paid work experience opportunities for university students. The announcement by ...
Recruitment News, Mar 27, 2013
Tesco To Recruit 200 New Staff
Tesco has announced that it is recruiting over 200 new staff for its new store which will open in Newry on 6 June 2013. The announcement was welcomed today by Employment and Learning Minister Dr Step...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 27, 2013
Extreme Weather Operations Ongoing
Search and rescue operations are continuing across Northern Ireland, as the emergency services come to the aid of those living in remote areas and farmers whose livestock have been threatened by extre...
UK National News, Mar 27, 2013
Girl Found Dead With 'Aggressive' Dogs
The body of a 14-year-old girl has been found at a house in Greater Manchester, with injuries thought to be consistent with her having been attacked by dogs. Jade Lomas-Anderson is believed to have b...
UK National News, Mar 27, 2013
77-Year-Old Faces 20 Sexual Assault Offences
A 77-year-old former police seargant is to appear before Blackburn Magistrates' Court today on charges of 20 different sexual and cruelty offences against children. Jeffrey Lake of Peregian Springs, ...