Northern Ireland News for February 2012

UK National News, Feb 29, 2012
James Murdoch Resigns From News International Post
James Murdoch has stepped down as executive chairman of News International, although he will remain deputy chief operating officer of parent group News Corporation. The newspaper publisher which owns...
UK National News, Feb 29, 2012
Train Capacity Boost On Track
Passengers are on track to benefit from faster, longer trains and over 12,000 extra seats each day on journeys into London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, Glasgow and ...
UK National News, Feb 29, 2012
First Year Of Driving Poses Risk For New Licence Holders
Motorists driving within the first year after passing their driving test are considerably more likely to obtain a conviction or make a claim than when learning, according to new research. Car insuran...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 29, 2012
Man Jailed For Downloading Pornographic Images Of Children
A man who downloaded and distributed pornographic images of children has been jailed for two years. Barry James Shaw, 31, from Balfour Avenue in Belfast, admitted to 28 charges. At Belfast Crown Cou...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 29, 2012
Teen Shot In North Belfast
A man has been shot in the leg in north Belfast. The 18-year-old was attacked on Spamount Street at around 8pm last night. He was taken to hospital and is said to be in a stable condition. (CD/GK)...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 29, 2012
Lo Speaks Out Against Carjacking
Alliance South Belfast MLA Anna Lo has spoken out against the recent spate of car hijackings. Her comments were made during an Assembly debate on the issue. Anna was the victim of an attempted car h...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 29, 2012
NI In Danger Of Lurching Back Into The Past
Northern Ireland seems in danger of lurching back into the past according to a new study. The Northern Ireland Monitoring report also stated "no new political party has emerged" since the Good Friday...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 29, 2012
Key Priorities Outline For NI's Energy Future
Energy Minister, Arlene Foster today outlined the ambitious plans for Northern Ireland’s energy future over the next decade. Speaking at the annual CBI Northern Ireland Energy Forum, the Minister sai...
UK National News, Feb 29, 2012
Atlantic Records Founder Leaves £26m To Oxford Universtiy
The founder of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun, has bequeathed £26 million to Oxford University. The university this morning confirmed the gift given to them from the late Atlantic founder and his wid...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 29, 2012
Burning Of Cars In Derry 'Contemptible'
SDLP Derry City Cllr John Boyle has condemned those responsible for burning out two cars in the Springtown Road area of the city last night. Cllr Boyle said the destructive act was utterly contemptib...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 29, 2012
Fear Of Being A Victim Of Crime Exceeds The Risk
Justice Minister David Ford has said that the fear of crime outstrips reality. He was responding to today's publication of the national statistical report on the Perceptions of Crime, which found tha...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 29, 2012
Fantastic Line-Up For Titanic Festival
Tourism Minister Arlene Foster today said the Titanic Belfast Festival 2012 will be a truly spectacular occasion for the city and wider Northern Ireland community. Over 120 events will take place, ra...
Recruitment News, Feb 29, 2012
Healthcare Provider Seeks New Recruits
Nua Healthcare, specialists in providing residential care, community outreach and day services to adults and children with complex support requirements, is to create 80 new jobs it has been announced....
UK National News, Feb 29, 2012
'Dignity In Care' Report Published
A new report commissioned to look at the treatment and care of the elderly has said that ‘fundamental changes’ are needed right across the board. Some of the 48 draft recommendations include compassi...
UK National News, Feb 29, 2012
Raspberry Pi Launch Sells Out
Following in the footsteps of the Sinclair Spectrum and BBC Micro, the Raspberry Pi went on sale at 6am this morning, immediately selling out and crashing the site it was being sold from. The new Bri...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 29, 2012
Cancer Charity Launches Urgent Funding Appeal
Northern Ireland charity Men Against Cancer today launched a new funding drive to raise £400,000 which it says is urgently needed to support local research efforts to combat the growing incidence of m...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 29, 2012
Other News In Brief
New Five Year Strategy Launched 
 Health Minister Edwin Poots today launched a new five year strategy for the Allied Health Professions in Northern Ireland.
The new strategy, Impro...
UK National News, Feb 29, 2012
Miracle Fish Survive Cocaine Trafficking Plot
Two men who attempted to traffic large amounts of cocaine into the UK, hidden in consignments of live tropical fish, have been jailed for a total of 22 years. Olaf Urlik and Norbert Jarzabek, both or...
UK National News, Feb 29, 2012
Other News In Brief
Employment Minister Hope to ease Concerns Over Work Experience Schemes In a bid to ease concerns over the governments much criticised work experience scheme, employment minister Chris Grayling...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2012
Brothers Robbed At Their Home By Masked Gang
Two elderly brothers have been robbed by a gang at their house in the outskirts of Newry last night. One of the brothers was hit on the face with an iron bar, as the gang ransacked the bedrooms at ar...
Business News, Feb 28, 2012
Ongoing Inaction On Aggregates Levy Disastrous For Construction Industry - SDLP
SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has said that a seeming inertia in the European Commission with regard to the suspension of the Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme in Northern Ireland is threatening the...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2012
Ian Paisley Discharged From Hospital
The Reverend Ian Paisley has returned home from hospital, his wife confirmed. The former First Minister was admitted to the Ulster Hospital earlier this month after suffering from heart problems. Hi...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2012
Airport Tells Govt Not To 'Sell Us Short'
Belfast International Airport, one of Northern Ireland's main exports hubs, is making a case for a major upgrade of the A57 approach road from the M2 at Templepatrick. In a Submission to the Draft Pr...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2012
Military Assault Rifles Seized
Two people have been arrested in connection with possession of two military assault rifles. The Metropolitan Police Special Projects Team supported by armed officers yesterday seized the weapons whic...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2012
Occupy Protesters Evicted From St Paul's
Occupy protesters have been evicted from St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Police and bailiffs moved in just after midnight and began removing the encampment, 20 arrests were made in an otherwise peacef...
Northern Ireland News, Feb 28, 2012
Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud
A woman was convicted at Craigavon Crown court yesterday for claiming benefits she was not entitled to. Ann Dougan, 32, of Willowfield, Tandragee, claimed Income Support totalling £1,028 while failin...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2012
Tube Dispute Possible During Olympics
Britain’s largest rail union, RMT, has rejected a pay deal for London Underground staff during the Olympic games. This has resulted in a formal dispute that will increase the pressure on London mayor ...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2012
Brits Spend More Time Choosing Lunch Than Testing A Mattress
March is National Bed Month, a month long celebration dedicated to the importance of a good night’s rest - so with approaching days getting longer the importance of quality sleep in your life is a hot...
UK National News, Feb 28, 2012
Barclays Bank Forced To Pay £500m In Tax
Rules around disclosing information to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) about possible tax avoidance schemes has forced Barclays banks to reveal two plans which HMRC have described as being ‘designed and i...
Recruitment News, Feb 28, 2012
Minister Attends First Action Plan For Jobs Business Forum
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D., has attended the first Action Plan for Jobs 2012 Business Forum in Cork City. More than 200 employers, small business people an...