Other News In Brief

Two Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

Two people have been convicted for claiming benefits they were not entitled to at Newtownards Magistrates' Court.

Mr Darryl Crawford of Abbots Walk, Bangor claimed Jobseekers Allowance totalling £1,726 while failing to declare employment. He was given a 12 month conditional discharge.

Mr Jason Jackson of Crawfordsburn Park, Newtownards claimed Jobseekers Allowance totalling £2,223 while failing to declare employment. He was given a two month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Both are also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

SF Calls On British Govt To End Refusal To Hold Full Inquiry Into Murder Of Pat Finucane

Sinn Féin is calling on the British government to end its refusal to hold a full inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.

MLA Gerry Kelly said: "In 2001 at Weston Park the British and Irish governments agreed to an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. To date the British government has failed to implement the Weston Park agreement.

"Since then British Prime Ministers have continually refused to hold an inquiry into the murder, despite extensive negotiations between the Finucane family and the British government.

"Clearly the British government is afraid of what will emerge during such an inquiry and that's why it's continuing to deny the Finucane family their basic human rights by refusing an inquiry.

"This was reinforced by the fact, which emerged during this judicial review, that senior British civil servants consider there is no basis for reneging on the commitment to the Finucane family."

ECHR Rejects Colin Duffy's Claims That His Human Rights Were Violated

The DUP has welcomed the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision to reject claims by dissident republican Colin Duffy that his human rights were violated by his detention on suspicion of assisting the murder to two soldiers at Massereene barracks in 2009.

MEP Diane Dodds said: "Colin Duffy has been linked to numerous murderous terrorist atrocities in which members of the RUC, PSNI and Armed Forces have paid the ultimate sacrifice in years past.

"It cries pure hypocrisy therefore that a dissident republican such as he should be able to make allegations about their own rights being violated, despite showing no concern for the right to life of others both in word and deed.

"I welcome that European judges have seen through this position and ruled that his application is inadmissible."

(CD/JP)