Northern Ireland News for April 2005

Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2005
Four year sentence for paedophile headmaster
A former Derry primary school principal who pleaded guilty to sex offences against three boys has been handed a four year prison sentence today. Admitting a series of 30 charges of gross indecency an...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2005
Killyleagh stabbing motive sought
Police are trying to establish a motive for the stabbing of a man in Co Down on Thursday. The victim, named locally as Freddie McMaster, was at home with his partner and duaghter in Kerry Drive, Kill...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2005
Figures reveal increasing childhood obesity worry
The latest batch of figures published by the Department of Health have revealed that the prevalence of obesity among children is rising. In those aged between two and ten obesity has risen from 9.9% ...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2005
Motorists advised to take extra care on roads
Motorists are being advised to take extra care on the roads this weekend as the May Day Bank Holiday approaches. So far this year, 38 people have died as a result of road traffic collisions. DOE Road...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2005
Police advise shopkeepers to remain vigilant
Police have advised shopkeepers and staff to remain vigilant over the May Day weekend. It follows this year’s Easter holidays in which five incendiary type devices were placed in commercial premises ...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2005
Man appears in court over football riot
A 20-year-old man has appeared in court today accused of riotous behaviour following last weekend’s local football fixture between Glentoran and Linfield at the Oval. Steven Moore, from Hood Court in...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2005
Adult magazines too easy to access for kids - McClarty
Newsagents in the Coleraine area of Co Antrim are being asked to crack down on the sale of adult magazines to children. Ulster Unionist Westminster candidate David McClarty said concerns had been rai...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2005
Abusive parents give head teachers cause for complaint
Head teachers are facing increasing abuse, threats and assaults from pupils’ parents, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has claimed. The NAHT said that it was becoming “concerned” abou...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2005
Labour attacked over GP targets
Prime Minister Tony Blair faced tough questioning over GP appointments on BBC’s Question Time show last night. Audience member Diana Church told Mr Blair that her GP would not grant appointments unle...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2005
Series of car bombs explode in Baghdad
A series of car bomb attacks in and around Baghdad have reportedly killed over 20 people and injured at least 50 others. The blasts, which were targeted at Iraqi security forces, took place in two se...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2005
Beckham nanny offers to stay silent
The former nanny of David and Victoria Beckham has agreed not to reveal any more information about the celebrity couple, it has been reported. The Beckhams had launched legal proceedings to seek an i...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2005
NI student dances her way to success
A 22-year-old student from Northern Ireland is dancing her way to success in the BBC’s reality television series ‘Strictly Dance Fever’. University of Ulster student Rebecca Leonard, and dancing part...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 29, 2005
Stately home refurbishment wins building award
The refurbishment and extension of a Georgian-style mansion has won top prize in Northern Ireland’s leading built environment awards. Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart claimed the overall title ...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2005
Police granted more time to question Abigail suspect
Surrey police have been granted more time to question a 25-year-old man in connection with the stabbing of Abigail Witchalls last week. The man was arrested on Wednesday evening in Croydon, south Lon...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2005
Health inequalities across UK widen claims BMJ report
A report by the British Medical Journal shows that health inequalities throughout the UK are at their widest since Victorian times. Life expectancy continues to rise in the most advantaged areas of t...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2005
Wetherspoon to make all pubs non-smoking
Pub chain J D Wetherspoon has reported a 2% drop in third quarter sales and noted a slight decrease in beer sales purchases in its non-smoking pubs. However, Wetherspoon said trading at non-smoking p...
UK National News, Apr 29, 2005
Child murder novel shortlisted for prize
A novel inspired by the murder of toddler James Bulger has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for children’s literature. ‘Looking for JJ’, by Anne Cassidy tells the story of a ten-year-old girl ...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2005
Government publishes Iraq war legal advice
The government has published the legal advice provided by the Attorney General before the Iraq War, following the leak of some of the information to the media. The leaked information from Attorney Ge...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2005
‘Designer babies’ decision backed by Lords
The House of Lords has upheld a court decision ruling that the creation of ‘designer babies’ to treat seriously ill siblings was lawful. The decision upholds a 2003 Appeal Court decision, which allow...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 28, 2005
Family of missing woman offer £10k reward
The family of murdered Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian have offered a £10,000 reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the recovery of her body. Lisa’s parents made the offer on Thursday, e...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 28, 2005
Detectives revisit murder scene
Detectives investigating the murder of Jonathan Graham in Newry last week have re-visited the scene of his shooting. Mr Graham was shot and fatally wounded in the early hours of Thursday morning as h...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2005
Police arrest man in Abigail case
A 25-year-old Surrey man has been arrested in connection with the attack of Abigail Witchalls, police have confirmed. Surrey police confirmed that the man had been arrested last night, but said that ...
Business News, Apr 28, 2005
Kingfisher warns of potential drop in profit
Kingfisher, the owner of the B&Q home improvement chain, has announced that they are expecting reported retail profit for the first quarter to drop by 15%. Kingfisher also said that it expected like-...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 28, 2005
Orde claims IRA still recruiting and targeting
The IRA is still engaged in targeting security force members, PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde claimed today. Mr Orde, who was speaking at a PSNI awards presentation ceremony in Belfast, said that alth...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2005
Attacked pensioner dies in hospital
An 86-year-old woman who was attacked in her home by two young intruders has died in hospital. Mrs Kathleen Roberts, a widow, had been discovered hiding in a utility room at her home in Stockton, Cle...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 28, 2005
Coca-Cola investment secures 250 NI jobs
More than 250 jobs have been secured in Co Antrim after Coca-Cola confirmed it is to build a new plant on the outskirts of Lisburn at a cost of £53 million. The move ends months of speculation about ...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 28, 2005
Cancer figures released as new charity forms
Two children are diagnosed with cancer every week in Northern Ireland, a new charity has revealed. The figures were released as a new charity, CLIC Sargent, was formed following the merger of CLIC an...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 28, 2005
PSNI officers rewarded for 'outstanding service'
PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde has recognised examples of “outstanding service” within the force by awarding the Chief Constable's Highly Commended Awards at a ceremony on Thursday. The Awards were h...
Northern Ireland News, Apr 28, 2005
NI asylum guide delivers ‘facts not myths’ claim authors
A new information guide on refugee issues in Northern Ireland, which aims to deliver the facts, ‘not the myths’, about asylum, was launched in Belfast today. The new booklet, 'Forced to Flee: frequen...
UK National News, Apr 28, 2005
Japan train crash – driver’s body recovered
The body of the driver of a train, which crashed in Japan earlier this week, has been recovered. It was confirmed that the body of 23-year-old Ryujiro Takami was found in the wreckage of the commuter...