Biker Killed

A 19-year-old motorcyclist has died in hospital following a road traffic accident when the teenager crashed on the Shelling Hill Road in Cullybackey on Wednesday. No other vehicles were involved in the accident which was reported to have occurred at about 5.15pm yesterday.

£200K Fine For Waste

A Co Down man has been forced to hand over £204,500 and given a suspended jail sentence after he was convicted of serious waste offences. Patrick Joseph Murphy (57) of Hilltown Road, Mayobridge, Co Down, a Director of Mourne Compost, pleaded guilty to two charges of keeping controlled waste without a licence at Newry Crown Court. He was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. The case involved over 40,000 tonnes of household, commercial and inert waste, some of which originated from the Republic of Ireland. The court made a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for £204,500 in relation to benefit from his criminal conduct. This has to be paid within 12 months.

WorldSkills Challenge

Skilled young people in Northern Ireland should sign up for this season's WorldSkills UK competitions. NI Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey is calling for local entries to the competitions that are designed to find the best skilled people and annually attract up to 4,000 skilled participants in 70 skill categories ranging from landscape gardening, autobody repair and painting and decorating to floristry, hairdressing and IT. "What's great about WorldSkills UK competitions is that they play a key part in lifting standards of training and performance while promoting world class skills and now more than ever, skilled industries are crucial to the future success of our economy," he said, noting that anyone who is skilled can enter online by Friday 19 March at www.worldskillsuk.org

NI Water Convicted For Pollution

Northern Ireland Water has been fined £3,000 plus £31 court costs at Newry Magistrates’ Court for pollution offences. On 28 July 2008, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, (formerly the Environment and Heritage Service) observed a discharge from a pipe to a tributary of Lough Ross at a bridge on Carran Road, Crossmaglen. The discharge appeared very cloudy and had the appearance of containing effluent from a drinking water plant; the visual impact on the receiving waterway was significant. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to Carran Hill Water Treatment Works. This is the first case where a Water Treatment Works has caused pollution.

Smoking Room Fine

A Belfast man has been fined £250 plus £70 solicitor costs and £28 court costs for a planning offence. Eugene Hughes of Andersonstown Road, Belfast was found guilty at Laganside Magistrates' Court. Enforcement action was taken against Mr Hughes, who is the proprietor of McEnaneys Bar, Glen Road, Belfast for the unauthorised erection of an enclosing structure to the rear of the bar, which is used for smoking and as a storage facility.

Adult Learning Facility Opens

A major new centre for adults with learning disabilities is to open in Co Antrim today. The Lisburn Assessment and Resource Centre will support adults with complex and intensive care needs. The facility has been under construction for the last two years and features an indoor garden built specifically for those with disabilities. The centre also has an independent training flat to help people develop skills in day-to-day living.

(BMcC/GK)