Andre Arrives In Belfast

Over 100 screaming girls queued up outside Victoria Square in Belfast this morning hoping to catch a glimpse of Peter Andre. The singer visited the Perfume Shop to meet the adoring fans and promote Unconditional his new scent for women. Peter, 36, said: "I am so proud of this fragrance, this is the scent that I know smells good on women. "It is classical and sexy at the same time." The perfume is available exclusively at the Perfume Shop. Peter's album Revelation is currently number 40 in the UK album chart.

Swine Flu Mum Returns

Omagh woman, Shirley Hamilton has held her seven-week old baby son Thomas for the first time since contracting swine flu days after his birth. The 36-year-old mother of three spent the subsequent five weeks in a coma in London fighting for her life. However, she has now returned to the intensive care unit of the Craigavon Area Hospital where there were emotional scenes as she was reunited with her new son and 12-year-old twin girls, Leanne and Michelle. Although remaining in intensive care, Shirley is now conscious and in a stable condition and continues to make good progress and doctors hope she will make a full recovery. Whilst in the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, Shirley had a tracheotomy to assist her breathing, which involved putting a tube in her throat.

Boxer Dies

A young boxer from west Belfast has died suddenly. Gary Craig, 25, passed away in his bed on Wednesday night. He was watching a DVD with his fiancée when he had a seizure. His family believe he was the victim of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS). It happened just days after he resuming his boxing career which had been 'on hold' for some time.

Health Watchdog Wants Culprits Targeted

The few health workers in Northern Ireland who are found not to be doing their job properly no longer have a hiding place, a patients' watchdog has warned. John Keanie of the Patient and Client Council said health professionals should be held accountable and failure to improve should lead to sackings. It follows a damning verdict on hygiene conditions at four acute hospitals in a report published last week.

Sisters of Mercy Hand Over €127.5M

The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in Ireland have announced they are to hand over an amount in excess of €127.5 million in land and cash as 'reparation'. The congregation wrote to Minister Batt O'Keeffe today, advising him of the contribution they will make to children had suffered while within their care. The announcement comes in the wake of the revelatory Murphy Report, published last week that detailed incidences of a culture of institutional secrecy within the Catholic Church over child abuses by priests in Dublin. Today's announcement however, is in response to the Ryan report, which was published in May, and revealed horrific abuses by a number of Church ran reformatories, including institutions ran by the Sisters of Mercy.

Dana's Mum Buried

Former Eurovison winner and MEP Dana yesterday helped to carry the coffin of her mother Sheila Brown at a funeral in Derry attended by hundreds of mourners. Mrs Brown, who was aged 91, died last weekend in her family home at Baronscourt following a short illness. Irish president Mary McAleese was represented at the funeral in St Patrick's Church, Pennyburn, by her aide-de-camp Captain Brian Walsh.

Views Sought On Larne Revamp

Resident in Larne have been urged to express their views on regeneration plans for the town. Draft proposals, developed over the past year, have identified development opportunities for a number of key sites across the town centre. Included in the plans are several new waterfront developments on the edge of Larne Lough. Provisions have been made for new retail space and leisure uses by redeveloping derelict and rundown areas. The Department for Social Development has also suggested improving public spaces and linkages within the town centre. NI Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said she hopes the ideas put forward in the proposals will "energise" local traders and potential investors.

(BMcC/Gk)