Northern Ireland News for June 2005

Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2005
Concern over DVLNI Coleraine operation
Speculation is growing that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing office in Coleraine could be transferred to the agency's national headquarters in Swansea. With fears that 400 jobs could be axed as a res...
UK National News, Jun 30, 2005
Sex abuse victim wins record payout from Catholic Church
A man who was sexually abused by a Catholic priest has been awarded record damages of more than £600,000 at the High Court. The High court awarded the victim, known as "A", damages of £635,684 agains...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2005
Public confidence in PSNI increasing
A survey commissioned by the Northern Ireland Policing Board has revealed that public confidence in policing is increasing. The April 2005 Omnibus Survey revealed 83% of respondents had some, a lot o...
UK National News, Jun 30, 2005
Government reveals illegal immigrant figures
There are around 430,000 illegal immigrants living in the UK, the Home Office has reported, although the number could be as high as 570,000. According to the report, the Home Office estimated that th...
UK National News, Jun 30, 2005
Glazers return to Old Trafford
Malcolm Glazer’s three sons have reportedly returned to Old Trafford, a day after they were forced to leave in a police van, following protests by angry Manchester United fans. Joel, Avi and Bryan, w...
UK National News, Jun 30, 2005
Stabbing victim Abigail continues to recover
Stabbing victim Abigail Witchalls’ condition is continuing to improve, doctors have said. The 26-year-old, who was left paralysed after being stabbed in the neck in Little Bookham, Surrey, in April, ...
UK National News, Jun 30, 2005
Road deaths ‘lowest since figures began’
The number of people killed on Britain’s roads last year was the lowest since records began in 1926, according to the latest government figures. The number of people killed in road accidents in 2004 ...
UK National News, Jun 30, 2005
Pregnant women face work discrimination, report claims
More than seven in ten pregnant women are “suffering in silence” over unfair treatment at work, a report by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has claimed. One million pregnant women are likel...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2005
Elderly woman robbed in north Belfast
An elderly woman has been robbed by a bogus caller at her home in north Belfast. The caller, posing as a salesman, forced his way into the 86-year-old’s home in Sackville Court on Wednesday and asked...
Recruitment News, Jun 30, 2005
Medical graduates ‘not prepared’ for NHS work
Medical school does not prepare doctors for the reality of working in the NHS, a survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) has claimed. The survey, published at the BMA’s annual conference, tra...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2005
NI economic growth above UK average says report
Northern Ireland’s economic growth rate is above the UK average, while manufacturing exports have doubled in the last decade, a new report has said. The first Northern Ireland Economic Bulletin foun...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2005
Police appeal following chinese restaurant robbery
Police in east Belfast are appealing for information following an armed robbery at a chinese restaurant on Wednesday. Shortly before 12.30am two men, one of whom was armed with a hammer forced their ...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2005
Counterfeit goods 'undermining' retail sector, says Minister
“Don’t buy it” was the message from Security Minister Shaun Woodward as he commented on the findings of a major Government backed study into the attitudes and motivations of customers towards the buyi...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2005
First ever aerial survey of NI’s geological resources launched
The first ever aerial survey of Northern Ireland’s geological resources was launched today from Newtownards Airfield. The survey is part of the Tellus project, a three-year initiative to collect sci...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2005
Queen's opens up new dialogue with local schools
Queen's University aims to forge even stronger links with schools in Northern Ireland as it implements its ambitious Vision for the Future, Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson has said. Addressin...
UK National News, Jun 30, 2005
Public ‘concerned’ about central health records computer
Members of the public are “seriously concerned” about government plans to hold health records on a central computer, the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned. A survey regarding government pl...
Recruitment News, Jun 29, 2005
Sony announces 650 UK jobs losses
Japanese electronic firm Sony have announced that 650 jobs will be lost with the closure of its south Wales factory. The firm announced that its manufacturing plant in Bridgend, which produces tradit...
UK National News, Jun 29, 2005
Life for 19-year-old who killed his parents
A public schoolboy who admitted killing his parents has been jailed for life at Liverpool Crown Court today. Brian Blackwell, 19, had pleaded guilty to two charges of manslaughter with diminished res...
UK National News, Jun 29, 2005
ID cards bill survives Commons vote
The government’s controversial Identity Cards Bill has survived a House of Commons vote, in spite of a rebellion by some Labour backbenchers. Folowing the close vote Tony Blair said that he was prepa...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2005
Orange Order and nationalist residents agree Derry march
Around 3,000 Orangemen are to march on the nationalist west bank of Londonderry on the 12th July following an “historic” agreement between the Orange Order and Bogside Residents Group. The Chamber of...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2005
Couple escape injury in petrol bomb attack
A couple in their 20’s have escaped injury following a petrol bomb attack on a house in Co Down. The incident occurred in the Brayside Grove area of Castlereagh at about 2.45am on Wednesday. The bom...
UK National News, Jun 29, 2005
Witness protection measures announced as ASBOs double
The government has announced new measures aimed at protecting vulnerable witnesses as the latest figures reveal that the number of anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) cases has doubled. The announceme...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2005
Funeral takes place of drowning victim
The funeral of a teenager who drowned in a Co Fermanagh lake last weekend, has taken place on Wednesday. Martin McGoldrick, 19, had been swimming alongside his brother and two friends in Coranny Lake...
UK National News, Jun 29, 2005
Bigley family appeals for release of body
The family of Ken Bigley, the British hostage murdered in Iraq last year, have appealed for his body to be released. The 62-year-old engineer from Liverpool was working in Baghdad, when he was taken ...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2005
Teenager left ‘shocked and shaken’ in robbery attempt
A teenage girl has been left “shocked and shaken” after she was assaulted and threatened at knifepoint during an attempted robbery in Co Down on Tuesday. The incident, which took place at a shop at B...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2005
Centre of Excellence to advance engineering research
Northern Ireland’s technology infrastructure received a major boost today with a £6 million investment in a new engineering research centre in Co Antrim. The investment at the FG Wilson’s Caterpillar...
UK National News, Jun 29, 2005
Teenagers questioned over father-of-four’s death
Police are questioning five teenagers after a father-of-three was beaten to death, allegedly because he refused to give the youths a light for a cigarette. Forty-three-year-old Mugilan Sutherman, ori...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2005
East Belfast interface to get £1m improvements
A £1 million plan to improve an interface area in East Belfast has been announced by Social Development Minister David Hanson. The developments will include the demolition of derelict houses, road im...
UK National News, Jun 29, 2005
UK retail sales slump continues
UK retail sales suffered the worst fall in 22 years during June, the CBI has reported. According to the report, 42% of retailers said that their sales volumes had dropped over the year to June, while...
UK National News, Jun 29, 2005
Fines to rise for premium rate ‘scammers’
Rogue firms, which use premium rate numbers in phone and text scams, could face fines of £250,000 under new government proposals. The increase has been promoted by a surge in phone text promotions, p...