Northern Ireland News for February 2005

UK National News, Feb 28, 2005
Over 100 feared dead in Iraq bombing
A massive car bomb in Hilla, Iraq has killed more than 100 people according to reports from Iraq this morning. The suicide bomber exploded a device in a car close to a group of people who were queuin...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2005
British man admits to 'shoe bomb' plot
A British man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to blow up an airliner using a 'shoe bomb' in a terrorist attack Saajid Badat, 25, from Gloucester had been charged with conspiring with Richard Reid an...
Business News, Feb 28, 2005
Labour announces maternity changes
The government have announced plans to offer working mothers an extra three months maternity leave. The new measures, which would extend maternity leave from six to nine months, would give mothers an...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2005
Belfast proposals aim to create 4,000 new jobs
The Government has unveiled proposals which will aim to create 4,000 new jobs in Belfast over the next few years. Under the new plans, announced at the Waterfront Hall on Monday by Social Development...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2005
Clarke makes concession on anti-terror laws
Home Secretary Charles Clarke has agreed to allow judges to make the decision on the issue of control orders during a Commons debate on the government's Prevention of Terrorism Bill. The government h...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2005
Inclusive Executive is ultimate goal of Government - Murphy
Secretary of State Paul Murphy has said that the ultimate goal of the Government is an inclusive Executive which includes Sinn Fein. Speaking at the weekend Mr Murphy said the Government wanted to se...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2005
Prince visits tsunami-hit areas of Sri Lanka
The Prince of Wales has visited one of the areas worst affected by the Asian tsunami disaster, during a visit to Sri Lanka. Prince Charles visited Batticaloa, one of the poorest parts of the country,...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2005
'Fast-track' process announced for miners compensation
A new fast-track compensation process for miners suffering from lung damage has been announced by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Miners who opt for the new process, which is based on a b...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2005
Hospital tackle hygiene issue for 'Think Clean' Day
Nurses, doctors, consultants and cleaners from nearly a thousand hospital sites have been working to raise the profile of good hygiene in hospitals as part of 'Think Clean' Day. The initiative, a col...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2005
Conservatives to crackdown on criminal profits
Conservative leader Michael Howard has announced plans to make it illegal for convicted criminals to profit from writing about their crimes. Under a Conservative government, Mr Howard said that royal...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2005
HSBC reports massive profits hike
Global bank HSBC has reported a massive increase in pre-tax profit of $17.6 billion (around £9.2 billion) in 2004 - a 37% rise that is the biggest recorded by any UK-based bank. The company's sales a...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2005
Hundreds gather for McCartney family rally
Hundreds of people gathered at a rally on Sunday to hear impassioned pleas from the family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney calling for those behind his death to come forward. The McCartney f...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2005
Two men stabbed in Belfast
Detectives in south Belfast have appealed for information after two men were stabbed close to the Dublin Road in the early hours of Sunday morning. A group of friends - two young men and women - were...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2005
Police in Londonderry abduction appeal
Police are appealing for information following the abduction of a woman in Londonderry on Friday. The 23-year-old woman, who was dressed in red tracksuit bottoms and a grey zip up tracksuit top, was ...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2005
NI house prices buck UK trend and keep rising
The housing market in Northern Ireland is yet to see evidence of a slow down - unlike other parts of the UK - according to the region’s most authoritative survey of house prices. The latest Universit...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2005
PSNI to hold ‘Restorative Justice’ conference
The PSNI is to host a major human rights conference on restorative justice in Belfast today and tomorrow. The conference, entitled “Restorative Justice – From the Mechanics to the Dynamics”, will exp...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2005
Two people escape injury following house fire
Two people have escaped injury following a blaze at a house in Co Armagh at the weekend. A man in his 40s escaped injury following the fire in his home at Ashlea Gardens, Markethill, in the early hou...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2005
'Million Dollar Baby' scoops major Oscars
Clint Eastwood's boxing drama, 'Million Dollar Baby' won four of the main Oscars at last night's 77th Academy Awards. The movie won 'Best Picture', Clint Eastwood picked up the Oscar for 'Best Direct...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2005
Minister outlines new economic vision for NI
Enterprise Minister Barry Gardiner today unveiled the new ‘Economic Vision for Northern Ireland’ publication. The document sets out a vision for Northern Ireland’s economy for the next decade which b...
UK National News, Feb 25, 2005
Five-years for mother who poisoned son with salt
A mother who killed her son with an overdose of salt has been sentenced to five years in prison. Petrina Stocker, 42, from Romford in Essex, was found guilty at the Old Bailey yesterday, of the mansl...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 25, 2005
Church calls for restoration of 'moral integrity' to peace process
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has called for a restoration of "moral integrity" to the peace process. Following a meeting in Belfast on Thursday, the 250-strong body of ministers and lay-people ...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 25, 2005
Government considers role of Victims Commissioner
The Government has indicated it may be set to move on appointing a Victims Comissioner for Northern Ireland. Following a question to Secretary of State Paul Murphy from DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson durin...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 25, 2005
Murphy announces first ever Prisoner Ombudsman
Secretary of State Paul Murphy today announced the appointment of Northern Ireland’s first Prisoner Ombudsman. Brian Coulter's appointment comes after former prisons controller John Steele recommende...
Business News, Feb 25, 2005
Minimum wage set to rise to £5-per-hour
The UK government has announced plans to increase the adult minimum wage from £4.85 to £5.05 in October 2005 and a further increase to £5.35 in October 2006. The youth rate, that for 18-21-year-olds ...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 25, 2005
Three die in NI every month because of asthma
A new report into asthma has revealed that three people die in Northern Ireland every month from the respiratory ailment. 'A Moving Picture – Asthma in Northern Ireland Today', the first of three rep...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 25, 2005
Two pensioners treated for shock following separate burglaries
Two disabled pensioners have been treated for shock following separate burglaries in Belfast on Thursday night. In the first incident three men entered a house at St James Parade in west Belfast at a...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 25, 2005
Thousands of NI supporters to miss out on England tickets
Thousands of Northern Ireland football supporters are set to be without tickets for the forthcoming World Cup qualifier against England at Old Trafford because of an “overwhelming demand”, the IFA con...
UK National News, Feb 25, 2005
Pope recovering in hospital following surgery
Pope John Paul II is recovering in hospital in Rome, following surgery to ease his breathing problems. The 84-year-old pontiff returned to hospital yesterday, following a relapse of the flu and breat...
UK National News, Feb 25, 2005
Cancer care needs more improvement
Cancer services in England "broadly improved" in 2004, the National Audit Office (NAO) has found, although improvements are still needed in some areas. The NAO conducted a survey of over 4,000 patien...
UK National News, Feb 25, 2005
Liberal Democrats launch housing scheme
Liberal Democrats leader, Charles Kennedy, has announced plans to create 100,000 affordable homes, as part of the party's housing policy. The new scheme aims to help first-time buyers get a foot onto...