Other News In Brief

Farmer Convicted At Dungannon Court

A County Tyrone farmer has been convicted at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court of one charge of failing to notify the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the movement of five bovine animals onto his holding.

Mr Brian Gibson, Monaghan Road, Aughnacloy, also faced one charge of failing to notify the Department of the movement of five bovine animals off his holding and one charge of failing to keep a Herd Register in accordance with the Regulations.

Mr Gibson pleaded guilty and was fined £1,250 plus £31 costs and £15 offenders levy.

Farmer fined £750 For Pollution Offence

A County Tyrone farmer has pleaded guilty and been fined £750 at Dungannon Magistrates' Court for making a polluting charge to a waterway.

Mr Gary Anderson, Lisboy Road, Stewartstown, County Tyrone, also had to pay £28 Court Costs and £15 Offenders Levy.

The case arose on 27 November 2013 when Water Quality Inspectors observed what appeared to be pig slurry flowing down the Lisboy Road and entering a road gully.

Inspectors followed the flow of slurry along the Lisboy Road to a point where it was observed flowing from under a hedge from a grass bank.

A dye test confirmed the polluting discharge was entering an unnamed tributary of the Kingsmill River in the Ballinderry catchment area and the source was traced to farm premises owned by Mr Anderson.

A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharges contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

Larne Alert A 'Hoax'

A device behind a security alert that caused businesses and homes to be evacuated in Larne, County Antrim, has been declared a hoax.

A security operation in Dunluce Street began just after midday yesterday following a report to police of a suspicious device at the back of a business premises.

An Army bomb squad examined the item and declared it to be a hoax.

Sporting Facility Rolled Across Belfast

A new mobile sporting facility that aims to provide young people with a safe environment in which to play sports has been rolled out by the Belfast Policing and CommunitySafety Partnership (PCSP).

The mobile facility will encourage younger members of the community to engage with local PSNI officers and youth workers in their own area.

Councillor Colin Keenan, Chair of the Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership, said: "This is a really great project for young people in our city who may not have access to sporting facilities in their local area. Sport is an important part of a young person’s development; it teaches good sportsmanship, the importance of teamwork and has a positive impact on physical and mental health.

"The Ur Zone Belfast cage is an innovative approach to tackling issues such as anti-social behaviour and I’d encourage communities across the city to get in touch to arrange having this great facility for their area."

(IT/CD)