Other NI News In Brief

Passive Smoking Report

The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) has welcomed a report by the Royal College of Physicians, which found that passive smoking is a major hazard to children in the UK who live with smokers. Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention, UCF said: "A smoke-free childhood is crucial to nurturing a healthy start for children and reducing their risk of ill health. Smoking exposes infants and children to a range of chronic health risks such as respiratory tract infections, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the report highlights that children growing up with smoke are 90% more likely to become smokers themselves. This worrying trend underpins UCF's comprehensive strategy - '2020 Vision for a Tobacco Free Northern Ireland' - which is supported by our practical programmes to reduce smoking prevalence among local people."

Drugs Bust In Co Antrim

Police in Newtownabbey have discovered a suspected cannabis factory during a search of a property in the Ballyrobert Road area of Ballyclare on Tuesday. Approximately 72 suspected cannabis plants have been recovered. There have been no arrests at this stage.

Battle Legal Highs: SDLP

SDLP East Derry candidate Thomas Conway has said parents must be the first line of defence against 'legal highs' while awaiting legal bans and a police crackdown. "Mephedrone, which is actually a chemical fertiliser, has killed young people in England and it will here too unless we stop it. The SDLP has called for the NI Health Minister to move in quickly and close the legal loopholes so the PSNI can act. The responsibility must fall back squarely on parents to know where their children and young people are, what they are up to and whether they have access to these lethal substances," he urged.

SF Hail Mural

Sinn Féin’s east Belfast election candidate Niall Ó Donnghaile has commended all those involved in the new mural unveiled on the lower Newtonards Road entitled 'No More'. Speaking after attending the unveiling of the mural in Wolfe Close Mr Ó Donnghaile said: "I want to commend all those involved with the unveiling of the new mural this morning; not least Dylan and Dearbhla, who are the two young people depicted. The mural is part of the on-going body of work in this part of the city, to ensure greater cross community cooperation, engagement and understanding and we are now seeing a reduction in that tension and an improvement in the daily lives of the residents who live there."

Ballast Sunk

The SDLP policing spokesperson Alex Attwood has said the moving of 'Operation Ballast' from the Historical Enquiries Team to the PSNI's Crime Branch could set a dangerous precedent for other serious investigations. Mr Attwood was part of the NI Policing Board's Human Rights Committee that met with PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott on Tuesday to outline concerns about the move. "If the Chief Constable insists that this murder investigation is moved from HET to the PSNI Crime Branch, a rigorous oversight mechanism needs to be introduced over and above the board. This oversight mechanism needs fully qualified people with full powers and resources to ensure the PSNI pursue every lead as the SDLP has not been convinced the investigation into the Mount Vernon UVF should be moved back into PSNI Crime Branch and away from the HET. The HET has developed evidence, secured prosecutions and got convictions, previously, the PSNI and RUC did not."

IDB 'Paid Rent For Nothing'

The predecessor of Invest NI, the IDB, has been criticised by the Audit Office for failing to cancel a lease on two empty buildings. As a result of the oversight the taxpayer paid out £1.5m in additional rent on empty premises. In the early 1990s, the IDB entered into two 25-year lease agreements for premises at Campsie and overlooked a clause that allowed them to withdraw when the premises weren't needed.

(BMcC/GK)