Other News In Brief

Work Begins On Final Section Of Sewer Project In Armagh

Work has started on the final stage of a sewer project in Armagh.

The final section of work on the Newry Road will commence on 22 July and is expected to be completed by 31 July.

The first section of work will take place on the Newry Road around its junction with Folly Lane. The work has been planned to coincide with a road closure, which will be in place to facilitate work by Firmus Energy.

Construction work will move along the Newry Road towards Armagh City from 24 July. The work will be carried out under a lane closure, which will be in place from Folly Lane to the Langs Road junction from 24 to the 31 July. Two-way traffic will be maintained with the use of temporary traffic signals.

Man Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A man from Lurgan has been convicted for claiming benefits he was not entitled to at Craigavon Magistrates' Court

Gheorghe Ionas claimed Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £2,318 while failing to declare employment. He was fined £250 and ordered to pay an offenders levy of £15.

He is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

Call For Publication Of Political Donations To Be Backdated To 2014

Alliance MLA David Ford has accused other parties of "empty words" after it emerged only Alliance has called for the publication of political donations here to be backdated to 2014.

Mr Ford was speaking after the Secretary of State finally published responses from local parties to his consultation on bringing donations rules here into line with the rest of the UK. James Brokenshire announced this week donations would be published but only from 01 July, 2017.

The decision is despite Naomi Long previously changing legislation at Westminster which meant the publication could be backdated to January 2014. The publication of the letters by the Secretary of State, which came after pressure from Alliance and media outlets, show Alliance were the only party to request this backdating.

He said: "These letters show other parties are only paying lip service to transparency and are full of empty words when they say they wish to be fully clear in their dealings. Only Alliance, alongside the Green Party, publish our donations voluntarily and we have done for some time. There is nothing stopping other parties doing so immediately if they so wished.

"The Secretary of State has a duty to show leadership and stand up for the integrity of local politics. He should have noted the opinions of local parties on this issue and then shown that leadership by publishing donations backdated to 2014. It is the only conclusion anyone looking at this issue with a clear, neutral view could reach.

"Security reasons being cited for not backdating the publication are bogus - thanks to Naomi Long's legislation, anyone who has donated to a political party here since January 2014 knew their details could be published at a future date. Alliance has also continued to publish our donations, even throughout the campaign of violence against our party."

(CD)