Northern Ireland News for July 2008

Recruitment News, Jul 31, 2008
Prospects Of Agreement Look Good For Pay Deal
As the negotiations on the new Irish national pay deal draw to a conclusion, prospects are believed to be good for an agreement before the weekend. Unions, employers and Government officials are meet...
Recruitment News, Jul 31, 2008
Mixed Job News In Waterford and Westmeath
There is mixed job news for two Irish manufacturing firms today. Around 100 jobs are to be cut at Waterford's Honey Turbo Technologies. Employees have been told that consultation with union repres...
Northern Ireland News, Jul 31, 2008
Zimbabwe Death Was Suicide: Family
The family of an award-winning Northern Ireland photojournalist who died in Zimbabwe have said that they now accept he took his own life. A statement issued today from the family said that having "co...
UK National News, Jul 31, 2008
Man Handed Life Sentence For Care Home Murders
A man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering two women as they lay in their beds at a nursing home. Nathan Mann, 20, pleaded guilty to the murder of Rashmi Badiani, 56, and Radhaben Chauh...
Northern Ireland News, Jul 31, 2008
More Arrests Over Quinn Killing
Three more men have been arrested in connection with the murder of south Armagh man Paul Quinn. The men from the Forkhill and Crossmaglen areas were arrested on Thursday morning. A number of items h...
UK National News, Jul 31, 2008
Centrica Posts £1 Million In Profits - To Consumers Anger
British Gas owner Centrica has posted half-year profits of almost £1 billion - much to the anger of consumer groups. Centrica maintain that it has been "absolutely necessary" to raise household gas p...
Northern Ireland News, Jul 31, 2008
Fermanagh Crash Victim Named
As a 16-year-old girl remains critically ill in hospital following a road accident near Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh yesterday, the man who died in the same crash has been named as Michael Connors. The 54...
UK National News, Jul 31, 2008
Bouncy Castle Couple Win Appeal
A couple have won an appeal against a previous finding of liability for serious injury to a boy while he was on a bouncy castle they had hired. The victim, Sam Harris, suffered a depressed skull frac...
UK National News, Jul 31, 2008
Murder Inquiry 'Unlikely' In Jersey Home Probe
Jersey police have now confirmed the discovery of the partial remains of at least five youngsters at Haut de la Garenne, the former care home at the centre of an Historic Abuse Enquiry. The remains a...
UK National News, Jul 31, 2008
Arrest Follows Road Crash Deaths
A motorist has been arrested in connection with the death of three people in a road traffic collision in Leeds. A Ford Fiesta and Citroen C4 were travelling in the opposite direction when they were i...
UK National News, Jul 31, 2008
Woman In Court After Baby Remains Found
A Plymouth woman is due to appear in court after the decomposed bodies of two babies were found. Devon and Cornwall Police say a 21-year-old woman has been charged with concealment of birth. The wom...
UK National News, Jul 31, 2008
Double-Decker Bus Overturns In Dorset
Twenty-five people, including children, have been injured after a double-decker bus overturned in Dorset. It is reported that passengers on the top deck were "thrown" from the vehicle and those downs...
Northern Ireland News, Jul 31, 2008
Derry Man Badly Beaten
Details of a brutal Co Londonderry assault last weekend have only now emerged. The victim, Aidan Boyle's ankle was broken in two places, his leg fractured and his eye injured in the attack that took ...
UK National News, Jul 31, 2008
Man Held Over Passport Theft
A man is being held in connection with the theft of 3,000 blank passports and visas from a security van in Manchester. The documents, which were being delivered to RAF Northolt for delivery to embass...
UK National News, Jul 31, 2008
NHS 'Failing' On Prompt Access To GP's, Report Says
The NHS in England is failing to meet Government targets for giving people prompt access to GPs, a Healthcare Commission survey has revealed. It finds 13% of patients cannot get an appointment to se...
UK National News, Jul 31, 2008
William To Work In Defence Role
Royal officials have revealed that Prince William will spend time attached to UK special forces to complete an existing series of military secondments in the autumn. Part of a plan to give the Prince...
Northern Ireland News, Jul 31, 2008
Other NI News In Brief
Party Funds Revealed Sinn Féin is in the money with the healthiest balance sheet among Northern Ireland's main political parties, accounts released by the Electoral Commission reveal. The party's inc...
Northern Ireland News, Jul 31, 2008
R&D Success Cuts Costs At Schrader
A high-tech local manufacturing company is on course to cut production costs by over £700,000 following research and development (R&D) support from Invest Northern Ireland. Schrader Electronics Ltd, ...
Northern Ireland News, Jul 31, 2008
Chartered Banking Skills Targeted
A new financial services training initiative, aimed at facilitating future growth in the industry, has been launched. NI Economy Minister Arlene Foster (pictured here with Rory Ferguson and Megan Fla...
Northern Ireland News, Jul 31, 2008
Minister Goes To Work On An Egg
One of the largest local egg packing companies, Skea Egg Farms in Co Tyrone has been praised for its role in agri-food. NI Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew visited Donaghmore's Skea Egg Farms ...
Northern Ireland News, Jul 31, 2008
"Squandered" Potential Of NI Renewable Energy Industry
The alleged "paralysis" of the Northern Ireland planning system is hampering efforts to establish a viable renewable energy industry in the Province, according to a senior Airtricity director. Mark ...
Northern Ireland News, Jul 31, 2008
Facelife For Portadown's 'Blighted' Street
A street that has 'blighted' Portadown town centre for over 30 years is to undergo a major facelift. Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has pledged to transform the site in a bid to boost ...
UK National News, Jul 30, 2008
Energy Firm Reports Massive Profits
British Gas has announced that soaring wholesale energy prices have forced it to increase tariffs for domestic gas and electricity, despite its parent group Centrica reporting a massive £992 million p...
UK National News, Jul 30, 2008
London Seeks Legal Advice On Met Chief's Future
London's own civic administration has been seeking advice on whether or not it can suspend the city's top cop. The BBC has reported that the Deputy Mayor of London, Kit Malthouse is "trying to clar...
UK National News, Jul 30, 2008
British UFO Hacker Loses Extradition Case
A British computer 'hacker' has lost a Law Lords appeal against being extradited to the US to stand trial for allegedily accessing top security information. Gary McKinnon, a UFO enthusiast, faces cha...
Northern Ireland News, Jul 30, 2008
Yacht Rescued Off Co Down
A dramatic rescue was in progress this morning after a yacht with three people on board began taking in water after losing its rudder and suffering engine problems off the southern coast of Northern I...
UK National News, Jul 30, 2008
Murder Investigation Underway In Aberdeen
A major police investigation is underway after a man was found dead in a tenement stairwell in Aberdeen. Officers were called to an address in Ritchie Place on Tuesday at aroud 7pm after they receive...
UK National News, Jul 30, 2008
Northern Rock Reveals Job Cuts
Northern Rock is set to shed up to 1,300 jobs as part of a restructuring plan. The troubled bank, which was effectively nationalised this year, aims to limit the number of compulsory redundancies to ...
UK National News, Jul 30, 2008
HIV Worker Sues Fire Brigade For Discrimination
A fire service worker with HIV is suing Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service claiming disability discrimination. Michael Ashton told an Employment Tribunal that he had to take leave from work b...
UK National News, Jul 30, 2008
Drugs' Seizures May Have 'Negative' Impact
The UK's illegal drugs market is proving to be "extremely resilient" in the face of continuing, targeted police action. According to a new report, police crackdowns could actually have a negative eff...