Other NI News In Brief

Failed Appeal Of Loyalist Murderer

A loyalist who was recorded confessing to the killing of a grandmother has lost an appeal against his murder conviction at Belfasts High Court. LVF leader Jim Fulton, who is serving a minimum 25-year prison sentence, was jailed in January 2007 after being found guilty of 48 terrorist offences, including the murder of Elizabeth O'Neill, seven attempted murders and directing terrorism. Guilty verdicts for a catalogue of crimes were upheld, however four of his terrorist convictions were quashed. Judges described Mr Fulton, formerly of Queen's Walk, Portadown, as a "ruthless and vicious individual" who talked about a genocide of Catholics. Fulton's lawyers challenged the use of taped admissions as evidence against him but judges held that police tricking a defendant into incriminating himself does not render that material inadmissible.

HSENI Fines Firm Over Employee Death

A Plant Hire company based in Omagh has been fined £30k for breaching health and safety regulations. An action was brought against PFG PLant Hire Ltd following the death of Oliver Rutledge at a construction site in Fintona, County Tyrone, in January 2008. Mr Rutledge died when part of a wall he was demolishing fell on him. The Health and Safety Executive found the firm had not completed a sufficient risk assessment. They also failed to develop an adequate safe system of work for their employees. Kevin Campbell of HSENI said: "It is vital that all companies properly identify and address hazards within the workplace, and implement systems to minimise and control risks."

Foster Announces £1.3m Investment In New plastics Firm

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced a £1.3m investment in a new Fermanagh-based company, Erne Extrusions Ltd, with support from Invest Northern Ireland. Erne Extrusions Ltd will focus on the design, manufacture and distribution of environmentally friendly, moulded plastic products for the GB and European uPVC roofing markets. Invest NI has offered £171,000 towards the investment which will help the new company generate over £2million in sales in its first three years, and create 18 new jobs by 2011. Announcing the investment, the Minster said: "During a difficult time for our economy, which has seen local firms work hard to cut costs and sustain growth, this investment and its associated employment opportunities are a welcome and encouraging boost."

MP Calls For Olympic Team Name Change

A Stormont minister has called for the British Olympic team to be renamed "Team UK" to reflect the contribution of athletes from Northern Ireland. At a meeting of the UK Sports Cabinet in London Democratic Unionist MP Gregory Campbell acknowledged that the current official title was "Team GB and Northern Ireland" but said the shortened version was the form most commonly used. He said: "This excludes, and indeed alienates, the people of Northern Ireland. "I appreciate that to change the name might not be possible in the short term. However, I would like to see the name change being seriously considered for future Olympics Games beyond 2012." Mr Campbell also asked for the location of major sporting events to be spread evenly throughout the UK.

(GK/JM)