26/03/2015
Other News In Brief
Taoiseach To Meet Relatives Of The Kingsmill Massacre
Ulster Unionist MLA, Danny Kennedy has welcomed the news that Taoiseach, Enda Kenny is to travel to Bessbrook today, Thursday, to meet with the relatives of the victims of the Kingsmills massacre.
Mr Kennedy, said: "The Kingsmills massacre in 1976 shocked not only Northern Ireland but much farther afield. The sectarian massacre of ten Protestant workmen by the IRA remains a stain on south Armagh.
"The meeting will be the first time a Taoiseach has met in Northern Ireland with the relatives of the Kingsmills families.
"It is a follow up to the meeting held in Dublin in September 2012 and comes just ahead of the latest Coroner's Court Hearing on Friday."
Minister Urged To Review Parking Penalties
SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat has asserted that the current penalty system for illegal and unpaid parking is grossly unfair and failing to yield positive results.
In response to a written question from Mr Dallat to the Minister Danny Kennedy, figure detail that in the last three years the Department of Regional Development has failed to collect almost £3 million pounds in unpaid parking fines.
He said: "In the Minister's response I have learned that 23,879 motorists did not pay their parking fines amounting to £2,813,449 while those that did contributed £12,739,496 which goes some way toward paying the officers who implement the scheme.
"In many cases these so-called Fixed Penalty Notices impose financial hardship as well as serious credit rating problems if they become bad debt.
"When the penalties were doubled some time ago, I warned the minister Danny Kennedy that imposing a fine of £90 on a motorist who has overstayed his time in a car park is grossly unfair."
DUP Called To Explain Allocation Of New Homes In Carryduff
The DUP is being called to clarify over the allocation of new homes in a social housing development in Carryduff, Northern Ireland.
Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir confirmed loyalists have erected UVF flags, painted fences and daubed slogans around the site where 42 social homes are being built in Killynure Green.
He said: "This behaviour is deplorable and is a clear attempt to mark out territory and create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
"Despite this, Castlereagh DUP councillor Vikki Nelson said the erection of the flags and the slogans are linked to what she described as 'sectarian concerns' and fears that the houses would be allocated to people from the Markets and the Ormeau Road.
"Both the councillor and her party need to clarify exactly what she means by these remarks."
(CD/MH)
Ulster Unionist MLA, Danny Kennedy has welcomed the news that Taoiseach, Enda Kenny is to travel to Bessbrook today, Thursday, to meet with the relatives of the victims of the Kingsmills massacre.
Mr Kennedy, said: "The Kingsmills massacre in 1976 shocked not only Northern Ireland but much farther afield. The sectarian massacre of ten Protestant workmen by the IRA remains a stain on south Armagh.
"The meeting will be the first time a Taoiseach has met in Northern Ireland with the relatives of the Kingsmills families.
"It is a follow up to the meeting held in Dublin in September 2012 and comes just ahead of the latest Coroner's Court Hearing on Friday."
Minister Urged To Review Parking Penalties
SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat has asserted that the current penalty system for illegal and unpaid parking is grossly unfair and failing to yield positive results.
In response to a written question from Mr Dallat to the Minister Danny Kennedy, figure detail that in the last three years the Department of Regional Development has failed to collect almost £3 million pounds in unpaid parking fines.
He said: "In the Minister's response I have learned that 23,879 motorists did not pay their parking fines amounting to £2,813,449 while those that did contributed £12,739,496 which goes some way toward paying the officers who implement the scheme.
"In many cases these so-called Fixed Penalty Notices impose financial hardship as well as serious credit rating problems if they become bad debt.
"When the penalties were doubled some time ago, I warned the minister Danny Kennedy that imposing a fine of £90 on a motorist who has overstayed his time in a car park is grossly unfair."
DUP Called To Explain Allocation Of New Homes In Carryduff
The DUP is being called to clarify over the allocation of new homes in a social housing development in Carryduff, Northern Ireland.
Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir confirmed loyalists have erected UVF flags, painted fences and daubed slogans around the site where 42 social homes are being built in Killynure Green.
He said: "This behaviour is deplorable and is a clear attempt to mark out territory and create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
"Despite this, Castlereagh DUP councillor Vikki Nelson said the erection of the flags and the slogans are linked to what she described as 'sectarian concerns' and fears that the houses would be allocated to people from the Markets and the Ormeau Road.
"Both the councillor and her party need to clarify exactly what she means by these remarks."
(CD/MH)
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