Other NI News In Brief

Coleraine Suspects Freed

Three men arrested in Coleraine in connection with the murder of Kevin McDaid last May have been released. They were detained on Wednesday with two released pending further inquiries while one, aged 45, was released unconditionally. Mr McDaid, a Catholic community worker and father-of-four, was killed near his Somerset Drive home by a loyalist mob. To date, 11 people have been charged in connection with the murder.

Luas Crash Still Causing Delays

Traffic in Dublin continues be chaotic following an accident between a Luas tram and a bus on Wednesday. There is disruption to the Luas red line, with the service only running between Tallagh and Smithfield. Yesterday's crash happened in the northbound side of O'Connell Street which was closed overnight. More than 20 people were taken to hospital following the crash. One is said to be in a critical condition, two others were seriously injured. Irish police, Veolia Transport and Dublin Bus are investigating what caused the collision. See: Dublin Traffic Chaos

Crash Biker Named

The name of a motorcyclist killed in a road collision in Ballymena at the weekend has been released by police. Graham Jenkins, 24, from the town, died after his bike was in collision with a car at Lanntara, Ballee, at about 1930 BST on Saturday.

Harbour Roads Opened

NI Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy has officially opened a £3.2million Belfast Harbour scheme to upgrade two of the port's busiest roads. The works on a two kilometre stretch of Dargan Road and Westbank Road mean that the main ferry and container facilities, including the new Stena Terminal, are now connected to the M2 at Fortwilliam via an unbroken four-lane carriageway. "Belfast Harbour handles 60% of the sea borne trade and is a vital gateway for raw materials, exports and consumer goods for the entire island. I welcome this significant investment by Belfast Harbour which continues to develop the road network to the port," he said.

Internet Firm Wins Tender

EG Information Consulting, the Belfast-based specialist in Internet solutions, has won its first open tender in England with help from Invest Northern Ireland. The company came top in a public tender competition to develop a new web application for an orthopaedic hospital at Oswestry, near Wrexham, which is to become a foundation trust. The successful tender – the first won by EG Information from an open public tender taking place outside Northern Ireland – was assisted by the company's participation in an Invest NI marketing support programme designed to provide practical support to local companies seeking to expand business outside Northern Ireland.

Bike It Welcomed

SDLP West Belfast councillor Tim Attwood has backed this weeks' Belfast Cycle City bike ride to Stormont. It aims to highlight a campaign to make Belfast a top-ten cycle city. Mr Attwood, a keen cyclist, has placed a motion with Belfast City Council calling for Belfast to follow Dublin's example and adopt its own city cycle scheme. "Belfast City Council should follow suit and investigate the possibility of delivering a similar scheme. It would not only be environmentally friendly, it would also be very attractive to tourists who want an alternative way to view Belfast," he said.

Ulster Way Re-Launched

The new revised Ulster Way route and accompanying website were officially launched this week by NI Environment Minister Edwin Poots. The new route provides a 625 mile, (1,000 kilometre) circular walking route around the best landscape and scenery that Northern Ireland has to offer. Minister Poots said: "The Ulster Way provides access to the best of Northern Ireland, its landscapes, biodiversity, archaeology, and its people. Winding its way around our living and working countryside, you are never far from a section of the route. I hope that local people and tourists alike will be inspired to rediscover walking as a way to keep fit and enjoy our wonderful environment."

Investment By Engineering Firm

Castledawson-based Moyola Precision Engineering is set to implement a £400,000 employee training initiative to enhance its operations, it has been announced.

The move has been backed by Invest NI. The firm supplies a range of high specification complex components and tools for use in the aerospace, automotive, energy and medical device industries worldwide. Invest NI has offered £158,061 towards the total cost of the business improvement project, including part finance from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The aim of the initiative is to increase business capability through cross-functional training, helping Moyola to maintain and grow its competitive advantage in markets outside Northern Ireland.

Cancer Vaccine Praised

The NI Health Minister has praised the high uptake of the cervical cancer vaccine in Northern Ireland. Since the vaccination programme was introduced here last year, 89% of Year 9 girls received the first dose, with 85% and 83% receiving the second and third doses.

Speaking at Bloomfield Collegiate School in Belfast, Michael McGimpsey said: "Cervical cancer is a disease which kills around 40 women every year in Northern Ireland. For this reason, the vaccination programme is very important. I welcome the fact that the Northern Ireland uptake for the vaccination is extremely high, which means 12 and 13 year old girls and their parents, realise the importance of this vaccination in the fight against cervical cancer."

(BMcc/GK)