Other News In Brief

Pair Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

Two people have been convicted at Belfast Magistrates Court of benefit fraud.

34-year-old Paul McCartan of Mayfield Heights, Newtownabbey, claimed Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £3,718 while failing to declare employment. He was given 80 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £92.

25-year-old Erica Mairs of Clementine Gardens, Belfast claimed Income Support totalling £3,981 while failing to declare employment. She was fined £300 and ordered to pay court costs of £86.

Businessman Fined £14,000 For Pollution Offences

A County Monaghan business man has pleaded guilty and been fined £14,000 at Dungannon Crown Court.

Mr Seamus McAnenly, Moy Bridge, Emyvale, was fined for making polluting discharges to a waterway.

The charges relate to four separate occasions between 5-7 November 2011; 17 November 2011; 29 February 2012 and 6 April 2012 when a Fishery Inspector acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) investigated water pollution incidents at Drumnakilly.

Inspectors detected suspended solids discharging from the quarry and entering the Drumnakilly Burn. The source of the pollution was traced upstream to McAnenly Quarries Limited, where large quantities of sand wash had discharged to the waterway.

Men Arrested Over Criminal Damage, Bangor

Two men have been arrested following incidents of criminal damage in the town centre area of Bangor, County Down.

Police received reports of incidents of criminal damage at a number of commercial premises in the early hours of Tuesday September 16, during which windows were smashed. Damage was also caused to a number of vehicles in the area.

Police responding to the reports arrested two males, aged 20 and 22.

Appeal Over Missing Omagh Man

Police have appealed for information regarding 35-year-old Shane Sharkey from the Omagh area, who has been reported missing.

Mr Sharkey was last seen on September 4 at 10:30 on the Irishtown Road, Omagh, County Tyrone.

He is described as being 5' 6" tall, having light to medium brown curly hair and is of thin build and may be wearing a rucksack.

Police have asked Shane or anyone who has seen him to contact police immediately on the 101 number.

(IT/MH)