Baggott 'Body' Apology

The newly installed PSNI Chief Constable has defended his officer's response to the suicide of a young man in Bangor which featured in a Sunday newspaper. After the Sunday World published a photograph of the body on the front page, Matt Baggott yesterday said he was "deeply shocked" by the publication and said such issues should be treated with "more delicacy". When questioned about the incident, and how the body was in public view for three hours, Mr Baggott said: "Sometimes, unfortunately, there are circumstances which make it very difficult for us to deal immediately with those distressing situations. I am satisfied that these circumstances meant that it was impossible to deal with it any quicker." The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) last night said it had received 70 complaints regarding the story.

Burglars Targeted

A police operation against burglaries across Belfast, north Down, Castlereagh, Ards, Down, Antrim, Carrickfergus, Newtownabbey and Lisburn areas has led to multiple arrests. It aimed to "convert forensic evidence collected from burglaries into charges", and has seen 37 people detained. Operation Converter ran from Monday 26 October until Sunday 1 November. It resulted in 83 charges being brought - 30 for burglary and 53 for other offences such as car crime. Police also said a significant quantity of suspected stolen jewellery was recovered during a house search.

Half Of Kids On Bebo

Nearly half of P7 children (10 to 11 year olds) who took part in a joint Queen's University and University of Ulster survey use social networking websites. This is despite the fact that such sites, including Bebo, Facebook and MySpace, state that children below the age of 13 are too young to use them. The 'Kids Life and Times Survey' is carried out annually by ARK, a joint research initiative by Queen’s University and the University of Ulster. It documents children's opinions on a wide range of social issues, including the use of technology.

McCloskey Chairs Law Body

The NIO Secretary of State Shaun Woodward has announced the appointment of Mr Justice McCloskey as the new Chairman of the Northern Ireland Law Commission. Shaun Woodward said: "I am pleased to announce the appointment of The Honourable Mr Justice Bernard McCloskey as the new Chairman of the Northern Ireland Law Commission. As a judge of the High Court , a practitioner of over 30 years' experience and through previous appointments as Junior and Senior Crown Counsel for Northern Ireland, he brings a wealth of experience to this important post."

Fines For Planning

Two men have been prosecuted at Magherafelt Magistrates' Court for failing to comply with enforcement notices issued by the Planning Service. John Paul McNally of Glenviggan Road, Draperstown, was fined £250 and £92 court costs for failing to comply with an enforcement notice seeking the removal of a large concrete area at Moyard Road, Draperstown. Gerald Quinn of Moss Road, Ballymaguigan, Magherafelt, was fined £250 and £92 court costs for failing to comply with an enforcement notice seeking the removal of walls and pillars at 30 Moss Road, Ballymaguigan, Magherafelt. The charges were brought under Article 72 of the Planning Order.

(BMcC/KMcA)