Northern Ireland News for April 2003 : Page 2

UK National News, Apr 29, 2003
Military Cross Royal Marine 'gobsmacked'
The Royal Marine commando who was awarded the Military Cross – the most junior rank ever to win the medal - has said today that he was "gobsmacked" by the news. Marine Liam Armstrong, 23, of 45 Comma...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2003
Hi-tech airline security scheme takes off
Cutting-edge biometric technology is to be used to run instant checks on airline passengers to identify potential immigration and security risks before they travel to the UK, the Home Office announced...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2003
BP posts record first-quarter profits
BP's first-quarter results have revealed record profits, as the war in Iraq and political instability in two other oil producing countries forced up oil prices. The results showed a $3.73 billion pro...
Business News, Apr 29, 2003
Healthy outlook for building firms in year ahead
Figures announced in the Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB) State of Trade survey for the first quarter of 2003 indicate that the recent conflict in Iraq has had little or no effect on business for ...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2003
Gridlock fears over £2.3m summer road schemes
Roads in and around Belfast look set for gridlock this summer after a major £2.3 million programme of road maintenance work was announced today by the Department for Regional Development. The works i...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2003
Spring warms UK retails sales
Figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed a 0.6% increase in retail sales during March this year. The latest seasonally adjusted figures revealed that sales had increased by 4.3% on the...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2003
Minister opens £700,000 Derry business park
Social Development Minister, Des Browne, has opened a £700,000 business park in the south Londonderry village of Swatragh today. The project, consisting of eight work units housed in two buildings, i...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2003
Electricity substation fire disrupts commuter travel
A fire at an electricity substation during rush hour this morning caused major disruption for road and rail travellers in Belfast. The fire at Hannahstown substation on the Glen Road in west Belfast ...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2003
Man dies in motorcycle accident
A 23-year-old man has died following a road accident in Co Armagh yesterday. Connor Murtagh (23) from Derrymacash Road came off his motorcycle on the Ballynamoney Road in Lurgan at about 4pm. No othe...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2003
Family escape injury in 'reckless' attack
Police have described an incident in which a car sunroof was smashed as it travelled underneath a footbridge in Co Armagh as "reckless". A family of five escaped serious injury in their car after the...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2003
Holywood filling station robbed
A male shop assistant has been threatened at gunpoint at a filling station in Co Down. The employee was confronted by two men, one of whom had a hand gun, at around 8pm when they entered the store on...
Business News, Apr 29, 2003
Research shows Data Protection fraud rising
Data Protection has become the latest focus for fraudsters, according to a survey from the Credit Services Association (CSA), a UK debt collections body. In its annual survey of members, the CSA iden...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2003
Car stolen at gunpoint in Carryduff
A car containing a substantial sum of money has been stolen in Carryduff last night. The owner of the vehicle was securing premises on the Hillsborough Road when he was confronted by a masked gunman ...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2003
Minister praises NI teachers
Education Minister, Jane Kennedy has praised the dedication of the teachers in Northern Ireland and stressed the importance of ensuring teacher education adapts to meet the challenges of change within...
Recruitment News, Apr 28, 2003
Letterkenny loses 250 jobs in textiles sector
Around 250 jobs are to go in Letterkenny, following the news that Unifi Textured Yarns are to close their plant in the town, representing a huge loss for the local economy. The Tánaiste and Minister ...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2003
Afghans’ deportation angers refugee groups
Refugee groups in the UK have denounced the enforced deportation of Afghan asylum seekers, the first since the fall of the Taliban regime. The Home Office has declined to provide details of the fligh...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2003
HIV drugs prices to Third World slashed by half
The prices of some HIV/Aids treatments are set to be reduced by almost half in an attempt to relieve pressures on Third World treatment programmes, it has been revealed today. British-based GlaxoSmi...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2003
NASUWT vents anger at Jarvis contract award
The NASUWT has reacted angrily to the news that PFI contractor Jarvis has been awarded a £1.9 million government deal to support under-performing secondary schools. The NASUWT were particularly conc...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2003
Local election campaigns get under way
With local government elections looming on Thursday, the battle to persuade voters to get into the polling stations is under way. Today, the Conservative Party revealed that Ian Duncan Smith "has ri...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 28, 2003
Life sentence for man who murdered uncle
A man has been sentenced to life in jail for stabbing his uncle to death despite allegations that he had been the victim of sexual abuse in the past. Thomas Ian McQuade, 32 told Belfast Crown Court t...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2003
Lack of nurses puts patients at risk
A lack of qualified nurses means that students are being left in sole charge of patients in the NHS, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned. The RCN has pointed to a "serious lack" of registe...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2003
Four saved after catamaran capsizes
Four sailors, who spent 12 cold hours in the Solent after their catamaran capsized, have been rescued by Coastguard today. The alarm was raised at around 7.15am, and a short time later all four were ...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 28, 2003
Robinson slams Trimble’s election stance
DUP deputy leader, Peter Robinson has slammed Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble after the Upper Bann MP confirmed that his party will not be supporting the election of a First or Deputy First Minis...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2003
Talks continue on the future of Iraqi administration
Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien is in Baghdad today to attend a meeting on how to build Iraq's political future. The meeting was billed as part of the consultation process that will lead to a N...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2003
Longhurst murder set for Crimewatch appeal
The murder of schoolteacher Jane Longhurst is set to be the subject of a Crimewatch appeal this week. The news follows on from the arrest of a 35-year-old man last Friday. He was later released on p...
Business News, Apr 28, 2003
Buildsafe initiative aims to save workers' lives
A major new initiative has been launched which is aimed at improving the health and safety record of the construction Industry. Buildsafe-NI will run under the auspices of the Construction Industry F...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 28, 2003
Blair calls for ‘straight answer’ over IRA's position
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that a “straight answer” is needed from the IRA in order to break the deadlock in the Northern Ireland peace process. At a press conference held in London o...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 28, 2003
Meetings continue in effort to patch up peace process
Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, is to meet with the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowan, in Belfast today in yet further efforts to patch up the Northern Ireland peace pr...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2003
Straw gives upbeat view of Iraq situation
The vast majority of Saddam Hussein's forces have been defeated, dispersed, or isolated, the Foreign Secretary has told the House of Commons. In his update to MPs, Jack Straw also said that looting ...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2003
CBI issues call for interest rate cut
The CBI has called for a cut in interest rates on the back of a report, published today, indicating a dramatic fall in manufacturing orders. In its Quarterly Industrial Trends survey, the CBI say it...