Northern Ireland News for January 2008

Northern Ireland News, Jan 31, 2008
Paisley To Host Ahern In Ballymena
Another 'historic' cross-border meeting will take place on Friday when Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern holds political talks with NI First Minister Ian Paisley in his own 'backyard'. The two leaders wil...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 31, 2008
Police Rescue Mystery Woman From Lagan
An as yet unanmed 32 year-old woman has been pulled to safety from the river Lagan by a passing policeman. Constable Gary O’Neill and a colleague were called to the scene on their way to a daily brie...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 31, 2008
Child Death Investigations Dropped
The Public Prosecution Service has dropped investigations into the deaths of two children that were being treated in Northern Ireland hospitals. Adam Strain, 4, from Belfast, died in the Royal Hospi...
UK National News, Jan 31, 2008
Military Manpower Shortages Lead To ‘Fast Track’ Training
Soldiers may have to go into frontline operations without the normal levels of preparations. Senior army officers are suggesting that nearly 1,000 new army recruits may have their training cut by hal...
UK National News, Jan 31, 2008
Extreme Weather To Worsen
Gale force winds have been causing traffic chaos across the UK, claiming at least one life, with forecasters warning of blizzards and snow showers to come. A lorry driver died on the M6 in Cumbria in...
UK National News, Jan 31, 2008
People-Smuggling Gang Smashed
One of the largest people smuggling rings in Britain has been disrupted, according to Scotland Yard. Raids were staged on 12 addresses across London and one in the Midlands targeting the gang which i...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 31, 2008
Medical Secretaries Strike
Medical secretaries have staged a strike at Altnagelvin Hospital - despite agreeing a 'way forward' at an earlier meeting. Around 70 secretaries made their stand against the hospital's long-standing ...
UK National News, Jan 31, 2008
Shell Profits Record Angers Stakeholders
Anglo-Dutch oil firm Royal Dutch Shell has reported record annual profits of $27.56bn (£13.9bn). The record figures have made British corporate history, which are equivalent to more than £1.5m an hou...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 31, 2008
Parades' Commission Appointment Ruled Unlawful
Two Parades' Commission appointments have been ruled as unlawful in the House of Lords. The controversial appointments - by former NI Secretary of State, Peter Hain - placed two members of the Oran...
UK National News, Jan 31, 2008
Jail Threat For Youtube Speeder
A teenage driver who admitted to dangerous driving had earlier posted a video on Youtube showing him reaching speeds of up to 130mph. A jail sentence is now possible for Danny Hyde, 18, of Stowmarket...
UK National News, Jan 31, 2008
Prankster Presenter Loses Battle To Pneumonia
Personalities from the world of British TV have been paying tribute to the popular presenter and prankster Jeremy Beadle who died on Wednesday at the age of 59. The man best known for fronting such s...
UK National News, Jan 31, 2008
‘Lazy’ Carer Wins Initial Stages Of Landmark Case
A British woman who was branded “lazy” by her former employees for wanting time off to care for her disabled son has won the initial stages of a landmark case at the European Court of Justice. If the...
UK National News, Jan 31, 2008
New-born Baby Put Into Foster Care
A newborn baby taken from his 18-year-old mother must remain in local authority foster care while further inquires are made, a judge has ruled. The baby was taken from the teenager just hours after c...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 31, 2008
Minister Announces Carrickfergus Masterplan
Carrickfergus is set to get a major fillip with news of a 'Masterplan' scheme that will examine all the issues facing Carrickfergus into the future. During a visit to the town, the Northern Ireland S...
UK National News, Jan 31, 2008
Car Success Sparks Jobs Boost
The popularity of a new Nissan marque has led to the creation of around 800 new jobs. The positions will be at the Nissan car plant in Sunderland, thanks to the success of the firm's new Qashqai mod...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 31, 2008
Dodds Gets 'Preview' With Local Indian Businesses
Assembly Economy Minister Nigel Dodds has made a relatively short trip to see some Indian investors this week, prior to his planned 'long distance' visit to the Indian sub continent, next week. He re...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 31, 2008
Northern Ireland’s Bill For Legal Aid Doubles
Legal aid costs shouldered by the average Northern Ireland taxpayer have more than doubled within the last 10 years. The legal aid burden has risen dramatically from £30 million in 1997 to £69 millio...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 30, 2008
Trial Looms For McCartney Accused
The only man to be charged with the brutal murder of east Belfast man, Robert McCartney, is to go on trial this spring it was confirmed today. Ironically, on the third anniversary of the killing it w...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 30, 2008
Lifeboat 'Rescue' Abandoned
An operation to save a lifeboat that ran aground off Rathlin Island trying to assist a troubled rib boat has been called off. Efforts by a Ballycastle fishing vessel and the Larne lifeboat have faile...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 30, 2008
IRA Behind Quinn Witness Threats: Claim
A star witness in the investigation into the brutal murder of a South Armagh man last year is being threatened by the IRA. The family of Paul Quinn, 21, who was murdered in Co Monaghan three months a...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 30, 2008
'Shock' Findings As Scientists Question Taser 'Safety'
Stunned pigs may lie at the heart of renewed doubts over the 'safety' of the controversial Taser stun guns. Although specialist units of the PSNI are now to be armed with the weapons, which emit 50,0...
Northern Ireland News, Jan 30, 2008
Tree Crash Woman Dies
A woman motorist has been killed in the latest in a series of deadly Irish road accidents. This incident, outside Londonderry, involved a woman in her 30s. She was killed when her car collided with ...
Recruitment News, Jan 30, 2008
Minister Attends Skills Provision Debate
The Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell recently attended a debate on skills provision, the latest in a series of activities from the British Chambers o...
Recruitment News, Jan 30, 2008
Line Managers Are Key to Improving HR Effectiveness
The majority of HR managers say they would be more effective if line managers were better equipped - according to Youmanage, the online HR toolkit for line managers. The survey was conducted in Decem...
Recruitment News, Jan 30, 2008
Ireland's Immigrant Workers Wooed Home
Ireland's army of immigrant workers are to be beckoned homeward as economic conditions in Eastern Europe show signs of turnaround. The annual Opportunities Exhibition in Croke park will, for the firs...
UK National News, Jan 30, 2008
Big Pay-Off As Culture Chief Quits
Liverpool Culture Company's Chief Executive Jason Harborow has announced that he will be stepping down from his position. However, it's believed that Mr Harborow may now be in line for a £230,000 gol...
UK National News, Jan 30, 2008
Future of 'Titan Jails' In Doubt
The Justice Secretary Jack Straw has expressed doubts over whether plans to build huge new so-called "Titan" jails in England and Wales - expected to house up to 2,500 inmates each - will definitely g...
Recruitment News, Jan 30, 2008
350 Jobs To Be Lost At Arklow Factory
The Allergan plant in Arklow, Co Wicklow, is set to close with the loss of 350 jobs. The move comes after the company decided to transfer production to Costa Rica. Staff at the plant, which manufact...
UK National News, Jan 30, 2008
Victim To Claim Against Lottery-Winning Rapist
A 78-year-old retired teacher has today won a landmark case giving her the right to claim compensation from a serial rapist who won £7m on the national lottery. The unanimous ruling backed the retire...
UK National News, Jan 30, 2008
‘Migrant Baby Boom’ Places Strain On NHS
Maternity units across the UK have turned away expectant mothers because they are unable to cope with the unprecedented increase in foreign national births. Maternity services for foreign-born mother...