Northern Ireland News for May 2006

Northern Ireland News, May 31, 2006
Teenager given 15-years for schoolgirl's murder
The teenager who admitted murdering a west Belfast schoolgirl, has been told that he must serve a minimum of 15-years in prison. Thomas Purcell, 18, from Windsor Road, Belfast, had initially denied m...
UK National News, May 31, 2006
Tax credit overpayments hit £2bn for second year
The government has admitted that nearly £2 billion worth of tax credits have been overpaid for the second year running. According to the latest figures from the Treasury, a total of £1.8 billion wort...
Northern Ireland News, May 31, 2006
Loyalist remains 'critical' after shooting
A leading loyalist remains in a critical condition in hospital, after being shot in Newtownabbey yesterday. Mark Haddock, 36, and originally from the Mount Vernon area of north Belfast, was shot clos...
UK National News, May 31, 2006
Man sought following stabbing of father-of-three
Police are continuing to appeal for information after a father-of-three was stabbed to death in Knowle, Bristol. Barry Wilson, 29, from Ilminster Avenue had been returning home after spending the day...
Northern Ireland News, May 31, 2006
Man released in Ballymena rape investigation
A man in his 30's, who was being questioned over the rape of a man in County Antrim, has today been released on bail. The man was arrested yesterday morning in Ballymena, and was held overnight by po...
UK National News, May 31, 2006
Investigation launched into warship security breach
The Navy has launched an investigation after an undercover reporter managed to gain access to one of its warships. The journalist from 'The Sun' said that he spent an hour on board HMS Ocean at the D...
UK National News, May 31, 2006
Report into Burnley race riots published
A report into the race riots in Burnley in 2001 has claimed that council spending decisions and poor civic leadership aggravated the situation. The report, 'Burnley - The Real Story', cited segregate...
Northern Ireland News, May 31, 2006
Fresh probe launched to find Devlin murderers
Detectives in west Belfast are launching a fresh appeal into the murder of father-of-six, Gerard Devlin on February 3, 2006. Gerard Devlin was fatally stabbed when he returned to the Whitecliff Parad...
UK National News, May 31, 2006
Pensioner's remains reburied
The body of a pensioner whose remains were dug up and stolen by animal activists have finally been reburied. The body of Gladys Hammond was finally returned to her original grave at St Peter's Church...
Business News, May 31, 2006
NI economic outlook 'unsettled'
Northern Ireland's economy has weakened further in the last quarter of 2005, according to the First Trust Bank's Economic Outlook report, which has predicted an “unsettled” period for the local econom...
UK National News, May 31, 2006
'New evidence' in Diana death
Lord Stevens has hinted that new evidence has emerged in the investigation into the death of Princess Diana. Although Lord Stevens, who is leading the inquiry, made the announcement at the Hay Festiv...
Northern Ireland News, May 31, 2006
Pensioner robbed during aggravated burglary
Police in County Armagh are appealing for information after what police described as an aggravated burglary earlier this morning. It has been reported that armed robbers entered the house of a 78-yea...
Northern Ireland News, May 31, 2006
Minister visits Londonderry hospitals
A new £4.8 million hospital has today been opened in Londonderry. Health Minister Paul Goggins officially opened the state of the art Lakeview Hospital, which will be situated on the Gransha Park sit...
UK National News, May 31, 2006
Protection for Jutland wrecks marks 90th anniversary
New protection for the 14 British wrecks sunk in the Battle of Jutland - the most significant naval battle of World War One - has been announced to mark the 90th anniversary of the battle. Veterans' ...
Northern Ireland News, May 31, 2006
Private firm wins £110m water treatment contract
The Regional Development Minister, David Cairns, has today announced that Dalriada Water has been awarded a £110 million contract to upgrade water treatment facilities. This means that the Alpha Publ...
UK National News, May 31, 2006
'Thief-proof' number plates launched
The government has launched new 'thief-proof' number plates in a bid to clamp down on the theft of car number plates. The Department of Transport said that the new plates could not be prised off in l...
Northern Ireland News, May 31, 2006
College lecturers stage second strike
Almost 2,000 lecturers in Northern Ireland's 16 further education colleges are taking part in another day of strike action over a pay dispute. This is the second time within a week that the the teach...
Northern Ireland News, May 31, 2006
Province's economic outlook 'unsettled'
Northern Ireland's economy has weakened further in the last quarter of 2005, according to the First Trust Bank's Economic Outlook report, which has predicted an “unsettled” period for the local econom...
Northern Ireland News, May 31, 2006
NI students to have work exhibited
Northern Ireland students who topped an all-island HP Digital Imagination photography competition are to be honoured through a month-long exhibition of their work at the Department of Education. The ...
Northern Ireland News, May 30, 2006
Loyalist paramilitary 'critical' following shooting
A leading Loyalist paramilitary is understood to be critically ill in hospital, after being shot in Newtownabbey. Mark Haddock, 36, was shot in the Mossley area of the Doagh Road shortly before 4pm o...
Northern Ireland News, May 30, 2006
McGuinness dismisses 'British Spy' claims
Sinn Fein's Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness has today dismissed claims made in a Sunday tabloid, that he was a British spy. Speaking at his first public appearance since the newspaper was publishe...
Recruitment News, May 30, 2006
€30m Set Aside For Education Technology Transfer
Ireland's Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin has announced the provision of a new €30m fund designed to build a stronger and more professional Technology Transfer function w...
Northern Ireland News, May 30, 2006
£120m North-South electricity link announced
A North-South electricity interconnector costing £120 million (€180m), will be put in place between County Tyrone and County Cavan. The new development in electricity infrastructure was announce...
UK National News, May 30, 2006
Prescott faces increasing pressure to resign
Beleaguered Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is continuing to face increasing calls to resign. Mr Prescott, who is running the country this week while Prime Minister Tony Blair is on holiday, face...
UK National News, May 30, 2006
MoD names two soldiers killed in Iraq
The Ministry of Defence has released the names of two soldiers killed in Iraq at the weekend. Lieutenant Tom Mildinhall, 26, from Battersea, south London and Lance Corporal Paul Farrelly, 27, from Ru...
Northern Ireland News, May 30, 2006
Plans for Maze site to be unveiled
The blueprint for the development of the site of the former Maze prison, is to be unveiled later today. It is understood that the new 360-acre plot, just outside of Lisburn, will feature the much ant...
Northern Ireland News, May 30, 2006
Fuel depot fire investigation begins
Fire and rescue services are launching an investigation into the cause of a major fire at a fuel depot in north Belfast. The blaze, which broke out at around 7.30pm yesterday evening at the Hayes dep...
Northern Ireland News, May 30, 2006
Polish man assaulted in County Londonderry
A Polish man has been treated in hospital after he was seriously assaulted in County Londonderry at the weekend. It is understood that he was selling pictures, door to door, when the attack happened....
UK National News, May 30, 2006
Tributes paid to Iraq bomb journalists
Tributes have been paid to two British television journalists who were killed in a car bomb in Iraq on Monday. Camera operator Paul Douglas, 48, and soundman James Brolan, 42, died when the army conv...
UK National News, May 30, 2006
Ten arrested in train 'steaming' attack
Police have arrested ten youths after an apparent 'steaming' attack to rob passengers on a London train. British Transport Police sent 25 officers to the King's Cross Thameslink station around 2130 B...