Northern Ireland News for February 2006 : Page 3

UK National News, Feb 24, 2006
Environment Agency calls for hosepipe ban
The Environment Agency has called for hosepipe bans to be introduced in southeast England, amid fears that the region could face serious water shortages this summer. The call was made as it emerged t...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 24, 2006
Crocodiles recovered in Newry
The USPCA has recovered ten crocodiles and a variety of other reptiles from the boot of a car. Yesterday afternoon, a car was intercepted during a joint operation between the animal welfare charity a...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 24, 2006
DARD examine bird flu measures in province
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) recently met with key figures in the poultry industry and other interested parties to discuss the current Avian Influenza position. Represen...
UK National News, Feb 23, 2006
£2m reward offered for £50m robbery gang
Police are hunting an armed gang that made off with around £50 million from a Kent security depot on Wednesday morning. The gang, described as "dangerous" by police, held the depot manager and his fa...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 23, 2006
Fourth man arrested in connection with Hollran murder
A fourth man has been arrested in connection with the murder of 49-year-old Thomas Hollran in Carrickfergus at the weekend. Yesterday, police in the town arrested three other men, and a number of sear...
UK National News, Feb 23, 2006
Man admits to 'Wearside Jack' hoax
A man has admitted to being the Yorkshire Ripper hoaxer known as Wearside Jack at Leeds Crown Court today. However, John Humble, 50, a former labourer from Sunderland, has denied intending to pervert...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 23, 2006
East Belfast petrol bomb attack may be racist
A Filipino family in east Belfast have escaped injury following a petrol bomb attack on their home in Dundonald in the early hours of this morning. Two devices were thrown at the house in the Church ...
UK National News, Feb 23, 2006
Amnesty criticises UK terrorism laws
Amnesty International has criticised the government's anti-terrorism laws, claiming that they have led to serious human rights abuses. In the report, 'United Kingdom - Human Rights: A Broken Promise'...
UK National News, Feb 23, 2006
Families of victims to get advocate in court
Families of murder and manslaughter victims are to be allowed to have a representative in court, as part of a new pilot scheme announced by the government. The pilot of victims' advocates scheme will...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 23, 2006
Woman attacked in Portadown robbery
Detectives have appealed for information after a 19-year-old woman was attacked during a robbery in County Armagh. The woman was walking along an alleyway near Corcrain Drive in the Portadown area at...
UK National News, Feb 23, 2006
Oxfam seeks pledge response to meet African crisis
Firm pledge commitments from rich countries to fund the response to the food crisis in East Africa are not being made quickly enough, says international aid agency Oxfam. The relief agency has pointe...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 23, 2006
Postal workers may resume strike action
Postal Workers in Northern Ireland are to hold a ballot on whether or not to take official strike action against Royal Mail. This announcement comes less than a week after staff returned to work foll...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 23, 2006
Parades Commission restrict Strabane republican parade
The Parades Commission has today placed restrictions on a contentious republican parade, which is due to take place in Strabane this Sunday. The event has been organised in commemoration of the murde...
UK National News, Feb 23, 2006
Centrica profits rise to £1.5bn
British Gas owner Centrica has announced an 11% increase in profits, taking the amount to £1.5 billion. Centrica attributed the profits to its gas production and storage operations. The announcement...
UK National News, Feb 23, 2006
Chorion agrees £111 million buyout
Chorion, the firm which owns the rights to 'Noddy' and the 'Mr Men' characters, has agreed to a £111 million management buyout offer from private equity firm 3i. Planet Acquisitions, the company whic...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 23, 2006
Police appeal for information on missing Belfast pensioner
Police in east Belfast say they are becoming increasingly concerned about the whereabouts of a 70-year-old man. Alan Bell was last seen leaving his house on the Carol Hill Gardens area of the city at...
UK National News, Feb 23, 2006
Anti-DVD piracy unit promises crackdown
A new police unit dedicated to combating film piracy and the organised criminal networks sustaining the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit film product was launched today by the Metropolitan ...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 23, 2006
Search on for most 'enterprising' NI place
The Department of Trade and Industry has today launched a search to find the most enterprising place in Northern Ireland. ‘Enterprising Britain 2006’ is part of a nationwide competition aimed at reco...
UK National News, Feb 23, 2006
Reducing stress is 'key to solving long working hours culture'
Reducing stress is the key to improving the work/life balance of UK workers, management consulting firm Croner has said. Croner said that working long hours is a classic sign of stress and said that ...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 23, 2006
UCF launch National Clean Air Awards for NI
The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) has today launched the National Clean Air Awards for Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Established by the Roy Castle Lung...
Recruitment News, Feb 23, 2006
Majority Of Employees Support Smoking Ban
JobsGroup.net, the online recruitment network, has revealed that 84 per cent of employees support a complete smoking ban in all enclosed public places, including the smoking rooms still found in many ...
Recruitment News, Feb 22, 2006
Sage Group Expands In Dublin
Sage Group, the largest software company in the UK, is to establish an International Localisation Centre and European Data Centre at its existing operation in Ballsbridge, Dublin, with the support of ...
UK National News, Feb 22, 2006
Nanjing signs new lease for Longbridge site
Chinese car manufacturer Nanjing Automobile, the firm that bought parts of the MG Rover group, has signed a new lease with the owners of the Longbridge plant. The deal will allow car production to re...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 22, 2006
DUP claims 'cover-up' over IRA decommissioning
The DUP have today alleged that head of the decommissioning body, General John de Chastelain, along with the British government, have engaged in a cover-up over IRA decommissioning. The claims were m...
UK National News, Feb 22, 2006
Blast wrecks Shia shrine
Bombers have seriously damaged one of Shia Islam's most holy sites in Iraq. The al-Askari shrine in Samarra was severely damaged in an early morning raid carried out by two bombers. The shrine's gol...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 22, 2006
Police suspect Lisa Dorrian's body dumped at sea
Detectives investigating the murder of missing Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian have today revealed that they believe her body may have been dumped at sea around six months after her disappearance. Lisa Dor...
Business News, Feb 22, 2006
Sage Group expands in Dublin
Sage Group, the largest software company in the UK, is to establish an International Localisation Centre and European Data Centre at its existing operation in Ballsbridge, Dublin, with the support of ...
UK National News, Feb 22, 2006
'Essex Boys' murder duo lose appeal
Two men serving life sentences for the gangland killings known as the "Essex Boys" murders have lost appeals against their convictions. Michael Steele, 62, and Jack Whomes, 44, were jailed for life f...
UK National News, Feb 22, 2006
Thirteen arrested in bank fraud investigation
Police have arrested thirteen people in connection with an investigation into a multi-million pound banking fraud. The arrests were made following a series of raids co-ordinated by the City of London...
UK National News, Feb 22, 2006
Malnutrition tests recommended for hospital patients
Hospital patients should be screened for malnutrition and offered specialist nutritional support if necessary, the healthcare watchdog has said. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excelle...