Other NI News In Brief

M5 Road Crash

The young woman who was killed in a road accident in Co Antrim on Thursday afternoon has been named as Rebecca McManus. She was 26-years-old and was from nearby Rathfern in Newtownabbey and died in the tragedy at the Rushpark Roundabout at about 1pm yesterday. The dead woman was a passenger in a green Ford Focus that was in collision with a silver Vauxhall Zafira at the Shore Road exit of the roundabout. Five other people have been taken to the Royal Victoria and Antrim Area hospitals. Their conditions are not yet known. The M5 and the roads surrounding the roundabout were closed for a time but reopened on Thursday evening.

Armed Robbery In Newry

Robbers threatened a Co Down woman at gunpoint during an armed robbery at her home in Newry last night. The PSNI said that two masked men entered the house in the Carnagat Park area of the city shortly after 8pm and tied the woman with cable ties and threatened her with a firearm before making off with a sum of money. It later emerged that a 54-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and is helping police with their inquiries.

Cops Target Dissidents

The police have appealed to the public for patience while a major anti-terrorist operation gets underway. The PSNI are launching a major security operation against dissident republicans over the coming days, a senior officer has announced. The move to increase police checkpoints and patrols follows Monday's car bomb attack in Londonderry. The blast was the latest in a series of attacks by dissident groups this year. The news came at the October meeting of the NI Policing Board, where PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie said that the public may face disruption as a result of the operations.

Robbers Fire Shot

The PSNI are investigating after a shot was fired during an attempted armed robbery at a post office in south Belfast. It is believed three men entered the premises in the Rosetta area of the city through the roof. The men threatened staff and a shot was fired into the roof. No one was injured in the incident.The robbers escaped in a van which was later found burnt out in Carolan Road, just across the nearby Ormeau Road.

Arts Funding Offered

Applications are now being invited for Belfast City Council's Culture and Arts Annual Funding grants programme. The programme - which makes available grants of between £3,000 and £30,000 - is open to professionally managed arts and heritage organizations in the Belfast City Council area. Encouraging as many organizations as possible to avail of the grants, Councillor Conor Maskey, Chairman of the Development Committee, said: "We want to create a vibrant, cultural capital where arts and culture are placed firmly at the centre of regeneration in a way which inspires, empowers and elevates those who live, work in and visit the city." Application forms and guidance notes can be downloaded from www.belfastcity.gov.uk/funding and the deadline for applications is 12noon on Friday 19 November.

Vulnerable Protected

The NI Social Services Minister Michael McGimpsey has emphasised the need for organisations to develop a culture of dignity and respect for vulnerable adults. The Minister was speaking as he launched the publication of new guidance for safeguarding vulnerable adults at Parliament Buildings. 'Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults - A Shared Responsibility' is targeted at organisations who work with vulnerable adults in the voluntary, community and independent sectors. It is designed to help them develop reliable safeguarding vulnerable adult policies and ultimately produce improved safeguarding outcomes for some of the most vulnerable adults in Northern Ireland. "Each of us needs to understand the concept of vulnerability in adulthood, to be able to recognise adult abuse and to respond to it when we suspect it may be occurring," he said.

Swich Off?

The Foyle Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson has asked broadcast regulator Ofcom to investigate the manner in which Virgin Media has cut off its TV service to a number of Derry customers. "I have been contacted by a number of constituents this week who have had previously received their analogue TV service through the Virgin Media cable network. Their service was cut off this week with absolutely no warning whatsoever which I find completely unacceptable," she said. "At the very least, they should be giving their customers adequate prior notice.

P&O Backs Festival

Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's has announced P&O Ferries as its preferred ferry partner in advance of its official opening next Friday, 15th October. Nearly 10% of all visitors attending the festival come from outside Northern Ireland and P&O Ferries will provide a vital transport link into the city of Belfast from Scotland and northern England. Tracy Robb, Marketing Manager for P&O Ferries, said: "As operators of the shortest, fastest and most frequent crossings between Ireland and Scotland, P&O Ferries is delighted to strengthen its relationship with the festival and is looking forward to bringing many new visitors across to Northern Ireland to sample this years exciting programme of events."

Youth First

The Stormont Junior Minister, Robin Newton has joined young people at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast to celebrate the first Impact 2010 Awards. This is a joint project between the NI Environment Agency and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. The award ceremony was being held to showcase and reward young people involved in environmental and sustainable projects here. The final award, the People's Choice Award, was presented by Minister Newton. This inspirational award captured the interest of the public and received in excess of 2,000 votes from 26 countries.

(BMcC/GK)