Northern Ireland News for December 2010

Northern Ireland News, Dec 22, 2010
Carrick Contractors Win Fit-Out Deals
A Co Antrim-based firm, McCue Fit-Out, has plenty of reasons to celebrate during the festive period after successfully bringing three new market entries to Northern Ireland – in contract wins worth ov...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 21, 2010
Winter's Grip Shows Little Sign Of Loosening
NI's deep freeze weather is showing little sign of a thaw as even suburban Glengormley recorded -13C at 8am this morning. Temperatures plummeted to minus double digits across Northern Ireland overnig...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 21, 2010
Ferry Passengers Defy Travel Chaos
Even snow clouds proved to have a silver lining with news that hundreds of would-be air passengers have abandoned plans to fly home to NI from beleaguered Heathrow and Gatwick airports and are turning...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 21, 2010
Jack And Sophie 'Top Of The Tots'
Jack and Sophie were the most popular first names given to children whose births were registered in Northern Ireland in 2010. These findings are contained in provisional 2010 birth statistics release...
UK National News, Dec 21, 2010
Other UK News In Brief
Patients Come First In Arctic Conditions, Says BMA

 The British Medical Association (BMA) today paid tribute to the thousands of doctors across Northern Ireland who have been struggling ...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 21, 2010
Historic Buildings Grants 'Capped'
Grants to protect and restore NI's historic buildings are being capped. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has announced that it is to limit its Historic Buildings grant-aid to £50,000 pe...
UK National News, Dec 21, 2010
'Crossbow Cannibal' Pleads Guilty
A Bradford University student who branded himself the 'Crossbow Cannibal' has pleaded guilty to murdering three women. At Leeds Crown Court, Stephen Griffiths, 40, admitted murdering Suzanne Blamires...
UK National News, Dec 21, 2010
ID Cards Scrapped Under First Home Office Bill
ID cards will be scrapped under the Coalition Government's first Home Office Bill to pass through Parliament. The Identity Documents Bill is due to receive Royal Assent today. All ID cards will be c...
UK National News, Dec 21, 2010
New High Speed Rail Proposals Unveiled
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond today confirmed that the Government’s proposed high speed rail network - which would link London to the West Midlands, Manchester and Leeds - will include a direct l...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 21, 2010
Three To Face Charges Over Hamill Death
Although the public hearings have been concluded, the inquiry into the death of 25-year-old Portadown Catholic Robert Hamill continues to make the news today. Claims that the RUC failed to intervene ...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 21, 2010
Park Avenue Hotel Robbers Slammed
A daring robbery that took place in broad daylight at an east Belfast hotel has been condemned by a local politician. Alliance East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle has slammed the robbers for the attack at ...
UK National News, Dec 21, 2010
Three Billion A Year Could Be Saved, Says Report
A Government report by Infrastructure UK (IUK) today sets out a blueprint to save up to three billion a year on building and maintaining infrastructure. Treasury Ministers welcomed the plan saying it...
UK National News, Dec 21, 2010
People Trafficking Mastermind Jailed
One of the masterminds behind an international people trafficking gang has been sentenced to five years in prison. Iranian-born Ferzad Pezeshk, 39, of Barnet, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Cou...
UK National News, Dec 21, 2010
BAE Systems Fined £500,000
A defence group has been fined £500,000 over accounting offences. BAE Systems was fined for failing to keep proper records of payments it made to an adviser in Tanzania. Ahead of winning a £28m Tanz...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 21, 2010
Prison Officer 'Embarrassment' Over Drugs
The union representing prison officers in the Irish Republic has spoken of "embarrassment" over the arrest of a member in connection with drug smuggling. The prison officer was arrested yesterday mo...
UK National News, Dec 21, 2010
Iraqis Lose High Court Abuse Bids
Iraqi civilians, who claimed they were abused by British forces in Iraq, have lost their High Court bid for a public inquiry. Two judges stood by Defence Secretary Liam Fox's refusal to order a wide-...
Business News, Dec 21, 2010
Jobs Boost As Heating Engineers Expand
A hi-tech approach to business by an east Belfast central heating maintenance company is paying dividends with the announcement of its ambitious expansion plans supported by Northern Bank. David Crof...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 21, 2010
Derry City Centre Transformation Unveiled
A Londonderry city centre public realm scheme for Guildhall Square and Waterloo Place has been unveiled by the Stormont Social Development Minister Alex Attwood. The major £8m regeneration project, i...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 21, 2010
Heroin In RTÉ Campus
An Irish newspaper has claimed that traces of heroin have been found on the RTÉ facility in Dublin's Donnybrook. The Irish Sun newspaper said in a report the find was made after one of its reporters ...
Business News, Dec 21, 2010
Historic Buildings Grants 'Capped'
Grants to protect and restore NI's historic buildings are being capped. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has announced that it is to limit its Historic Buildings grant-aid to £50,000 pe...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 21, 2010
Jobs Boost As Heating Engineers Expand
A hi-tech approach to business by an east Belfast central heating maintenance company is paying dividends with the announcement of its ambitious expansion plans supported by Northern Bank. David Crof...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 21, 2010
Other NI News In Brief
Watch The Skies! As one of the coldest nights on record saw -17C recorded in Katesbridge, Co Down and even in suburban Glengormley it was -13C, local people were best placed in the whole of the UK to...
UK National News, Dec 21, 2010
TV Product Placement Rules Published
Product placement will be allowed on UK TV programmes for the first time, the broadcast regulator Ofcom has confirmed. From 28 February 2011, paid-for references for products and services will be pe...
UK National News, Dec 20, 2010
More Snow In Week Ahead
The icy weather shows no sign of loosening its grip on the UK over the next few days, with further snow in some areas potentially leading to disruption to travel networks. Snow is expected to affect ...
Business News, Dec 20, 2010
Euro Bank 'Serious Concerns' Over Finance Bill
The European Central Bank (ECB) has warned of "serious concerns" over legislation from the Finance Minister that will provide sweeping powers over the banking sector. A number of controversial measur...
Business News, Dec 20, 2010
Northern Bank 'Sets Scene' For Lyric
The Lyric Theatre has announced a major funding boost as details of a five-year partnership with Northern Bank were revealed at an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit to the new theatre. Building work...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2010
Record Low Temperatures Hit NI
With news that temperatures in Northern Ireland dipped overnight to their lowest on record, with -18C recorded at Castlederg, Co Tyrone, it is no surprise that widespread disruption continues. The De...
UK National News, Dec 20, 2010
Twelve Held In Counter Terror Raids
Twelve men have been arrested this morning in a large-scale, pre-planned, intelligence-led national counter terrorism operation. The men, five from Cardiff, four from Stoke and three from London, we...
Recruitment News, Dec 20, 2010
Jobs Kick-Off In Casement Park Transformation
The Stormont Executive's approval of imaginative plans to transform Casement Park in west Belfast into an all-seater stadium has been given a warm welcome. Boosting both Gaelic sport and creating man...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 20, 2010
Little Festive Cheer In Rasharkin Attack
Police have arrested a 25-year-old man following sectarian trouble in Rasharkin on Saturday. There was little sign of festive cheer when two men, aged 56 and 51, were injured after being assaulted by...