ATM Targeted With Digger

There has been a further incident in which gangs have used diggers to demolish walls and steal cash machines. Last month, there were three similar incidents in the space of just four days. This time, thieves have used a digger to steal a cash machine from the forecourt of a filling station in Dungannon. It happened at the premises on the Ballygawley Road at 2.45am on Wednesday. Police said they believed the robbers escaped in a van towing a trailer and have appealed for witnesses.

Deny Counterfeit Funding Call

People who buy counterfeit goods are funding organised crime gangs in other criminal activities including drug dealing, human trafficking and prostitution. That's according to the Chair of the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) Paul Goggins. He said that the OCTF has this week launched its hard-hitting Christmas advertising campaign, urging the public not to buy counterfeit goods. The campaign highlights the very real links that exist between the sale of fake goods and the funding of organised crime. "Those involved in the black economy of counterfeiting may be selling fake DVDs or CDs to your children today, but tomorrow it could be drugs," he warned.

Bank 'Set Aside' Creates Loss

It emerged yesterday that the Northern Bank's reported loss of £7.5m for the third quarter of 2009 would not have happened had the banker not had to set aside £23m to cover loans it thinks might not be repaid. The bank actually made an operating profit of £15.5m, and actual write-offs for the year to date are much lower at £5.3m. Chief executive Gerry Mallon said there was room for "cautious optimism" as the provision for potential losses has reduced in this quarter and total income for the third quarter of 2009 was £51.7m.

No Debate On 11-Plus

Stormont Education Minister Caitriona Ruane has rejected calls for her to join cross-party talks on school transfer tests, branding them an attempt to save academic selection. The news came as the Sinn Féin MLA faced questions in the Assembly on Monday from rival parties calling on her to take part in their discussions on finding an alternative to the minister's immediate scrapping of the 11-Plus test. But Ms Ruane said removal of the exam was long overdue.

Gun Theft Man Badly Beaten

A 75-year-old great-grandfather has been left covered in blood after thieves repeatedly beat him over the head with a hammer. Mr Campbell was kicked, stood on and threatened with murder in an attack that lasted more than ten minutes. He was assaulted after he answered calls for help at his home in Killeavy Road in Newry during the early hours of Friday morning. The men stole legally held shotguns.

Irish War Dead Remembered

Former soldiers from both sides of the Irish border are to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in Co Louth this Saturday, 7th November. Ex-service men and women will honour the World War fallen from the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland as Royal British Legion representatives mingle with members of the Irish Ex Servicemen's Association at the war memorial in Drogheda's Mary Street. At 11am, about 200 people are expected to attend the interdenominational service of praise and remembrance for those who died and were wounded.

Medical Focus On NI

The biggest-ever representation of medical technology from Northern Ireland in Europe will be seen at MEDICA 2009, the world's largest medical trade fair and congress in Dusseldorf from 18-21 November. Five local companies, along with senior representatives of the University of Ulster and the Health and Social Care Innovations Centre in Belfast, will be taking part on the Invest Northern Ireland group stand. A further five companies will have their own stands and eight will be at the international show on a business development visit organised by Invest NI.

SF Duo In NY

Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Féin and party colleague, Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Minister at the Stormont Assembly, will be the main speakers at the annual Friends of Sinn Féin dinner at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, New York, tonight (Wednesday). They will be giving an update on the progress of the Peace Process and what they said are "mounting difficulties" in securing the transfer of Policing and Justice powers away from London.

(BMcC/KMcA)