Northern Ireland News for November 2005

Business News, Nov 30, 2005
Government 'powerless' to prevent ferry re-registration
The Irish government has admitted that it is powerless to reject an application by Irish Ferries to re-register its ships outside Ireland. Marine Minister Pat Gallagher was responding to demands from...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 30, 2005
Waterfront Hall to close for repair work
Belfast's Waterfront Hall is to close for up to three months so repairs can be carried out on a faulty stage elevator system. The problem centres on an electronic system which controls the raising, l...
UK National News, Nov 30, 2005
Pension age could rise to 68
The state pension age could increase to 68, under new proposals put forward in the government’s review of pensions. The review, led by Lord Turner, recommended a gradual rise in the state pension qua...
UK National News, Nov 30, 2005
British Airways to cut management jobs
British Airways has announced plans to cut the number of management jobs by almost 600. The measures, which are part of re-structuring plans, would see the company’s 1,715 management posts reduced by...
UK National News, Nov 30, 2005
Teenager found guilty of axe murder
A 17-year-old has been found guilty of the murder of teenager Anthony Walker. Michael Barton, from Huyton, Merseyside, had denied murdering the 18-year-old, as well as charges of conspiracy to cause ...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 30, 2005
Tens of thousands expected for Best funeral
Tens of thousands of people are expected to line Belfast's streets at the weekend to pay their final respects to football legend George Best who is due to be buried on Saturday. The 59-year-old forme...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 30, 2005
Police continue to question bank staff over £26.5m heist
Police are still questioning two Northern Bank employees in connection with last year's £26.5 million heist in Belfast. A PSNI spokesperson confirmed that a 24-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman we...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 30, 2005
Hain opens NI's largest water treatment works
Secretary of State Peter Hain has officially opened a new £20 million state-of-the-art water treatment works at Drumaroad in Co Down. The plant treats water from the Silent Valley reservoir and is th...
UK National News, Nov 30, 2005
Mixed reaction to pensions report
Today's Pensions Commission report has been hailed by the government and opposition leaders but fiercely criticised by both businesses and trade unions. The review proposed a gradual rise in the stat...
UK National News, Nov 30, 2005
PC shooting suspect remanded
A 19-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky earlier this month. Yusuf Jama, from north Kensington, London, appeared before magistrates in Leeds on ...
UK National News, Nov 30, 2005
British hostage described as 'man of peace'
The family of a British man taken hostage in Iraq have today described him as a “man of peace”. Norman Kember, 74, a retired professor from Pinner, London, was kidnapped in Baghdad on Saturday, along...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 30, 2005
Prince Philip visits NI on one-day trip
Prince Philip has visited Northern Ireland on a one-day trip in relation to the work of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. In the first engagement of the day on Tuesday, the Prince attended a rece...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 30, 2005
Employment initiative aims to 'engage' homeless
The Government has unveiled new plans to help homeless people in Northern Ireland get back into employment. Social Development Minister David Hanson launched the ENGAGE programme, which aims to help ...
UK National News, Nov 30, 2005
Calls for probe into CIA 'transport' flights
Human rights group Liberty have called for the government to seek assurances from the USA that is not using UK airports to transport suspects to countries that use torture. The human rights group fea...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 30, 2005
NI is UK hot spot for house price rises
Northern Ireland is the UK’s regional hotspot for house price rises, according to a survey out today. The cost of homes is rising at a whopping 20% a year according to the latest University of Ulster...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 30, 2005
UU students unveil community mural
UU students and long-term residents of the Holyland area of south Belfast have unveiled a 16-foot mural promoting diversity in the area. The initiative was set up by the University’s Community Relati...
UK National News, Nov 30, 2005
Science under 'serious threat' says Lord May
In his final address as Royal Society President, Lord May has warned that the core values of modern science are under serious threat from fundamentalism. Lord May of Oxford will tell a meeting of top...
UK National News, Nov 29, 2005
British Gas workers set to stage strikes
Thousands of British Gas engineers are set to stage five 24-hour strikes over pension rights. The strikes will be held on December 12, 19 and 21 and January 6 and 9, the GMB union announced. The uni...
Recruitment News, Nov 29, 2005
€1.5M investment promises 43 new jobs
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Micheál Martin recently announced that Shannon Development has approved a €1.5 million support package for two Kerry-based indigenous companies - Altobr...
Business News, Nov 29, 2005
NI manufacturing and exports rise
Total sales and exports reported by manufacturing companies in Northern Ireland have continued to increase over the last year. The latest figures from the Northern Ireland Manufacturing Sales and Exp...
Business News, Nov 29, 2005
Irish Ferries pull extra security from ships
This afternoon it was reported that Irish Ferries has removed additional security personnel from its four ships stranded in a union dispute. Irish Ferries CEO Eamonn Rothwell in a statement today sai...
UK National News, Nov 29, 2005
Third Briton dies after Iraq shooting
A third Briton is reported to have died after being shot while on a Muslim pilgrimage in Iraq. Yahya Gulamali, 60, died in hospital overnight, after being injured when the minibus he was travelling i...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 29, 2005
NI manufacturing and exports rise
Total sales and exports by manufacturing companies in Northern Ireland have continued to increase over the last year, new figures have revealed. According to the Northern Ireland Manufacturing Sales ...
UK National News, Nov 29, 2005
Blair CBI speech disrupted by Greenpeace protest
Greenpeace activists have disrupted Tony Blair’s speech on nuclear power at the Confederation of British Industry conference. Two protestors scaled the ceiling above the speaker’s podium before the P...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 29, 2005
Appeal by death driver dismissed
The last chance to have a nine-year jail term overturned by a man who killed a 15-year old schoolgirl has failed at the Appeal Court in Belfast. The Appeal Court dismissed an application by Henry Chr...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 29, 2005
Domestic violence helpline is saving lives – Hanson
Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson has highlighted the success of the 24-hour Domestic Violence Helpline which is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Opening the Women’s Aid Federation Annual Conf...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 29, 2005
Campaign launched to target drug driving
The dangers of drug driving are being highlighted direct to students across Northern Ireland. Nineteen Universities and Colleges of Further Education have been chosen as sites for posters in a joint ...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 29, 2005
Two arrested in connection with Northern Bank heist
Two people have been arrested in connection with last December's £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery in Belfast. A PSNI spokesperson confirmed that a 24-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were arre...
UK National News, Nov 29, 2005
Metropolitan Police Chief welcomes Menezes’ inquiry
Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Ian Blair has welcomed the announcement of an inquiry into his conduct, following the shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes. Sir Ian told the CBI conference in L...
Northern Ireland News, Nov 29, 2005
Arrests in connection with 1972 bombing
A Sinn Fein assembly member is understood to have been arrested by police in connection with a 1972 IRA bomb attack which killed nine people. It is reported that Francie Brolly was arrested along wit...