Northern Ireland News for October 2006

UK National News, Oct 31, 2006
Network Rail admits crash mistakes
Network Rail has admitted a series of health and safety errors which led to the 1999 rail crash at Ladbroke Grove. The rail operator - formerly Railtrack - pleaded guilty to the charges at Blackfriar...
UK National News, Oct 31, 2006
Vans to carry posters of missing children
Posters of missing children are to be carried on hundreds of vans across the UK as part of a new campaign. More than 450 vans are to be used to display the posters, which will feature children on the...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 31, 2006
Mental Health Service needs to be modernised
Health Minister Paul Goggins, has today acknowledged that mental health and learning disability services in Northern Ireland need major modernisation. In order to do this, the Minister has establishe...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 31, 2006
NI roads claim two more lives
One person has died and six others have been been injured during a road traffic collision in County Antrim. The incident happened just before 10am this morning on the Whiteside Road/Portglenone Road ...
UK National News, Oct 31, 2006
Second TV appeal over mother's murder
The murder of Bournemouth mother-of-two Heather Barnett is to feature on BBC One's 'Crimewatch' programme this week for the second successive time. The body of Mrs Barnett, 48, was found in the bathr...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 31, 2006
Firework pushed through letterbox in Antrim
Police in Antrim are appealing for witnesses after a firework was thrown through the letterbox of a house at Tobergill Gardens in the town at around 10pm on Monday. It is understood that the occupant...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 31, 2006
Sports and political parties unite over Maze stadium plan
The Maze/Long Kesh monitoring group has today had its first face to face meeting with representatives from the three main sports bodies in Northern Ireland. The event was hosted by David Hanson MP, ...
UK National News, Oct 31, 2006
Celebrity lawyer released on bail
Nick Freeman, the celebrity lawyer nicknamed 'Mr Loophole', has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Mr Freeman, who is well-known f...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 31, 2006
Armed robbery in north Belfast
Police in north Belfast have appealed for information following the armed robbery of a delivery van this morning. The incident happened shortly after 10.30am in the Antrim Road area of the city, whe...
UK National News, Oct 31, 2006
Commons to debate Iraq investigation
The government is facing the prospect of a showdown in the House of Commons today should it refuse to hold an inquiry into the Iraq war. In a debate that is the first to be held on the issue since 20...
Business News, Oct 31, 2006
Enterprise week backing sought
Invest Northern Ireland is calling for all those thinking of, or currently involved in enterprise, to take part in National Enterprise Week, 13 -17 November 2006. Championed by Chancellor of the Exch...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 31, 2006
County Armagh pensioner robbed in his home
Police in County Armagh have appealed for information following a burglary at the home of a pensioner on Thursday evening. A man aged in his 80's was at his home in the Ennis Close area of Lurgan, wh...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 31, 2006
Major funding for Whiterock Children's Centre
The government has today announced the start of a major £0.5 million refurbishment of the Whiterock Children’s Centre in West Belfast. The centre, which was set up in 1988, is a not-for-profit commu...
UK National News, Oct 31, 2006
Three soldiers arrested over barracks death
Police investigating the death of a Welsh soldier at a barracks in Wiltshire have arrested three soldiers. Private Gavin Williams, 22, of the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Regiment, collapsed and died wh...
UK National News, Oct 31, 2006
Prince’s Peshawar trip cancelled
Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall are to remain in the Pakistan capital of Islamabad over security concerns. The couple were scheduled to visit the north western town of Peshawar, but furiou...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 31, 2006
FSB advances financial proposals for NI
Business body, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), has unveiled plans for a Northern Ireland finance package. The FSB have called for the introduction of a Ten Year Rates Reinvestment Fund to o...
UK National News, Oct 30, 2006
Action needed on climate change, report warns
Urgent action is needed to tackle climate change now, or else it could end up costing a fifth of the global economy, a report has warned. The review, conducted by former World Bank Chief Economist Si...
UK National News, Oct 30, 2006
Children's bodies flown home from Corfu
The bodies of two British children who died during a family holiday in Corfu are being flown back to the UK. The bodies of Christianne Shepherd, 7, and her brother Robert, 6, are returning home with ...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 30, 2006
Inquiry into Billy Wright murder commences
The public inquiry into the murder of LVF leader Billy Wright, who was gunned down by three INLA inmates at the Maze prison on December 27 1997, has today commenced in Belfast. This marks the beginni...
UK National News, Oct 30, 2006
Overhaul of expert witness programme proposed
England’s chief medical officer has proposed a radical overhaul of the system for providing expert witnesses for family courts. The key proposal of Sir Liam Donaldson's report was that a new service ...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 30, 2006
Demolition of Maze prison begins
The former Maze/Long Kesh prison is being demolished today in a move to clear the from the 360 acre site, with the process starting with the demolishion of the former internment compound. Speaking fr...
UK National News, Oct 30, 2006
Campaign to crack down on benefit cheats launched
The government has launched a campaign which aims to crack down on benefit cheats. The 'No Ifs, No Buts' campaign stresses the message that there are no excuses for committing benefit fraud. It is e...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 30, 2006
Suicide Prevention Strategy for NI launched
The Suicide Prevention Strategy for Northern Ireland has today been launched. During the launch, Health Minister Paul Goggins also announced the creation of a 24-hour pilot helpline 0808 808 8000 for...
UK National News, Oct 30, 2006
'Sticking plaster' hope for skin cancer
A new light-emitting 'sticking plaster' to be used in the treatment of skin cancer, has been developed by Scottish scientists. Researchers at the University of St Andrews and Ninewells Hospital in Du...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 30, 2006
Two die in Newry collision
The names of the two men who died in a road traffic collision in County Down on Friday evening, have been released. They were 44-year-old Stephen Shields from Newry and 26-year-old Gerard Fearon, fro...
UK National News, Oct 30, 2006
British consulate staff moved from Basra
Most of the civilian staff at the British consulate in Basra are being moved due to increased attacks in the area. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office confirmed that the move was "in response to in...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 30, 2006
Youth stabbed in Ballymoney incident
Police in County Antrim have appealed for information following a stabbing incident at the weekend. Shortly after 1am on Sunday, disturbances involving a number of youths, broke out in the Meeting Ho...
UK National News, Oct 30, 2006
Phone lines cut by burglars
BT has had to restore service to around 35,000 households and businesses after phone lines were cut by burglars. BT engineers had to repair the cables, which were damaged at an exchange when thieves ...
UK National News, Oct 30, 2006
Government launches road safety scheme
A new £4 million road safety scheme has been launched by the government. The Road Safety Partnership Grant Scheme will provide funding to approximately 20 local highway authorities in England who are...
Northern Ireland News, Oct 30, 2006
Integrated housing project launched in County Fermanagh
A new mixed public housing estate built in County Fermanagh, could be as “mould-breaking” as the first integrated school – Lagan College was 25-years-ago, the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter...