Northern Ireland News for December 2008

Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2008
Policing Board Gets New Chief
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has appointed a new top officer. Professor Sir Desmond Rea - the Board's Chairman - announced that Adrian Donaldson would take up the job in January. Sir Desmond ...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2008
Mansion Family Fire Funeral Held
The funeral of a millionaire and the wife and teenage daughter he is believed to have killed is due to take place today. Businessman Christopher Foster, 50, is believed to have shot dead his wife Jil...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2008
Migrants Targeted In Road Safety Drive
A new hi-tech initiative to increase road safety awareness among migrant communities has been launched. Northern Ireland Environment Minister Sammy Wilson's pre Christmas initiative came as a result ...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2008
Invitation To Tender Issued For Crossrail Project Representative
Experienced project managers have been invited to bid to help oversee the building of Crossrail, Europe's largest construction Transport Minister Andrew Adonis announced today. The Department for Tra...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2008
£13k Boost For Trading Standards And Environmental Health
Work to improve the regional co-ordination of regulatory services in England has been given a big cash boost. The Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) has agreed to invest £132,000 in four pilot are...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2008
Parents Urged To Ensure Kids Sleep Safe At Christmas
The number of children who have been accidentally suffocated by their parents as they slept in the last six months has risen. The tragic deaths - which are up to four - were confirmed by NI's Chief M...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2008
BSE Testing Age Increases
Farming Minister Michelle Gildernew has announced that the BSE testing age will increase to 48 months for all bovines from 1 January 2009. The announcement follows official confirmation from both the...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2008
Other News In Brief
England International On GBH Charge An England international rugby player has been charged with carrying out a serious attack outside a Bath nightclub. Lesley Vainikolo, 29, who also plays for Glouce...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2008
Rural Broadband Given A Boost
A substantial investment is set to improve broadband services in rural areas across Northern Ireland. The first two companies to be awarded financial assistance from the £1.9million Broadband Fund we...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2008
Invest NI Gets New Boss
Invest Northern Ireland has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive. Alastair Hamilton will succeed Leslie Morrison in the top role. Mr Hamilton, who is from Northern Ireland, has over 25...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2008
Shops Bags A Green Deal For Environment
There's been a warm NI welcome for a national pledge by leading UK retailers to halve the number of carrier bags given to shoppers by spring 2009. Northern Ireland Environment Minister Sammy Wilson h...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2008
Cross-Border Transport Gets Green Light
The launch of a cross border rural transport pilot project in counties Fermanagh and Donegal has received a high-level boost. The Northern Ireland Transport Minister Conor Murphy and his counterpart ...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2008
New Funding To Help Hill Farmers Protect Historic Uplands
A new payment scheme that will reward hill farmers for protecting and enhancing the landscapes and environment of England's iconic uplands was announced by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn today. Th...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2008
Derry Shop Fined For Dud Dvds
A North West shopkeeper has been fined a total of £200 at Londonderry Magistrates' Court for selling counterfeit DVDs. In a case brought just before Christmas by the Department of Enterprise, Trade ...
UK National News, Dec 19, 2008
Company Fined £40k After Employee Loses Part Of Finger
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging companies to carry out full risk assessments and ensure dangerous machinery is properly safeguarded, following the sentencing of an East Sussex company ...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 19, 2008
PSNI Contracts Revealed
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has published the findings of a report on how PSNI appoints consultants and deals with contracted out services. Board Members welcomed the report which was commi...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2008
Other News In Brief
Motorist Dies In Crash Police in Cardiff are appealing for information after an 18-year-old man died after his car collided with two other vehicles. The man, from the city, was fatally injured in the...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2008
Judge Orders RUC Files Released To IRA Man's Family
A High Court Judge has ordered Ulster's top cop to release a list of RUC documents to the family of an IRA man shot dead by officers 16 years ago. Sir Hugh Order is expected to disclose all non-sens...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2008
Man Admits Rachel Nickell Manslaughter
A 42-year-old man has admitted to killing and sexually assaulting 23-year-old mum Rachel Nickell more than 16 years ago. The former model was attacked as she walked with her two-year-old son on Wimbl...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2008
'Rapid' Iraq Withdrawal From May
Gordon Brown has confirmed there will be a 'rapid withdrawal' of UK forces from Iraq from the end of May next year. Speaking in the Commons, the Prime Minister said the number of British soldiers st...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2008
Mortgage Arrears 'Could Reach 500,000', CML Warns
The number of households more than three months behind in their mortgage repayments could reach 500,000, according to stark figures released today. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) have warned t...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2008
Fears Of New Mad Cow Disease Strain Raised
A new version of the human form of mad cow disease could cause a second wave of deaths across Britain, experts have warned. Professor Chris Higgins highlighted a case currently being investigated by ...
Business News, Dec 18, 2008
NI Medical Research Applauded
An investment project, worth almost £1 million, and which has creating nine new jobs, has been warmly welcomed by NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster. The development by Belfast-based i-Path Diagnos...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2008
Road Death Toll Rises
The deadly road toll from accidents in Northern Ireland has now reached a total of 104 people. A 17-year-old boy was killed in a road accident in Co Londonderry as he went to pick up friends for a sc...
UK National News, Dec 18, 2008
Ambulance Service Under Pressure As 999 Calls Soar
People are being asked to avoid calling 999 unless it is an emergency, as ambulance services are struggling to cope with outbreaks of illness the cold winter weather has brought. Peter Bradley, the N...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2008
Murder Charge Follows Omagh Stabbing
A woman has been charged with the murder of a 37-year-old man in Co Tyrone. The victim was stabbed in a flat on Hospital Road in the Omagh shortly after 3am on Monday. The 36-year-old woman is due t...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2008
Employment Boost At NI Job Centres As Hundreds Sign On
While as many as 130 new civil service jobs are to be created next year in NI, this isn't necessarily good news overall, as the positions are in local job centres. The Employment Minister Sir Reg Empe...
Recruitment News, Dec 18, 2008
Athlone Wins Pharmaceutical Jobs
An American pharmaceutical research company have announced some 200 jobs for Co Westmeath. According to reports this morning the company, Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD), is to open a base a...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2008
NI Medical Research Applauded
A leading medical charity has congratulated both Queen's University and the University of Ulster on their performance in a recent research assessment exercise. Commenting on the scheme - which cove...
Northern Ireland News, Dec 18, 2008
Other NI News In Brief
Bangor UXB Closes Roads Two roads in Bangor have been closed following the discovery of what is believed to be an unexploded World War Two mortar. Castle Park Road and Castle Park Avenue have been cl...