Tot's Killer Guilty

The partner of a Belfast woman has been found guilty of murdering their four-month-old baby daughter. Craig Jamieson, 30 and from Glasgow, is now facing a mandatory life sentence for Baby Abbie's killing at the family's Scottish home in February 2008. The baby was taken to hospital by ambulance after Jamieson phoned her mother, Nichola Haddock, to tell her the child was unwell. Abbie was admitted to Yorkhill Hospital for Sick Children without a pulse or circulation, unconscious and not breathing. She later died in her mother's arms from a skull fracture, bleeding on the brain and bruising to her abdomen. Her liver had also ruptured into pieces. Jamieson had lodged a defence that it was his partner, Abbie's mother, who had inflicted the fatal injuries, but having been found guilty by majority verdict, Jamieson will instead be sentenced on Thursday.

Harbour Appointment

NI Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy has announced the appointment of local businessman, Peter Fitzsimmons, to the board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority. "The public competition to recruit new board members attracted a range of highly skilled candidates. I am extremely grateful for all those who expressed an interest in serving the local community in this way," he said. "I am confident that, under the leadership of the Chairman, Jim Stewart, the Harbour Authority will provide the strategic direction necessary to steer the port through the current challenging trading environment. I am sure that Mr Fitzsimmons will make a significant contribution to the efficient management of the port."

DUP MLA Meets Britvic

Robin Newton, the East Belfast DUP MLA, has met management of Britvic following the recent announcement of 52 redundancies. "I wanted to meet with the management to ensure that all that could be done to minimise the job losses was done. I raised the matter of alternative job opportunities within the company," he said. "I was pleased that a number of employees whose job was redundant had internal offers of employment and that additional skills training was to be provided."

Kick Out Guilty MPs: UUP

Conservative and Unionist East Belfast General Election candidate Trevor Ringland has called on all parties in Northern Ireland to pledge to help 'clean up politics'. He said: "The Conservative and Unionist pledge to allow voters to recall and kick out any MP found guilty of corrupt practices is part of our campaign to clean up politics and restore integrity to public life. The expenses scandal exposed a moral black-hole at the heart of politics – both in Westminster and in Northern Ireland. There needs to be fundamental change in how politics works and I call on candidates from all parties across Northern Ireland to pledge to support a Conservative and Unionist government in introducing such legislation."

Healthy Day Marked

NI Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride has joined with the rest of the world in marking World Health Day yesterday. Organised by the World Health Organisation, and celebrated on April 7 every year, World Health Day is a unique opportunity to draw worldwide attention to global health issues. Speaking at a local Armchair Aerobics Class for adults, senior citizens and people with mobility difficulties, in the Glen Community Centre, Newtownards, Dr McBride said: "It is great to see that this group of older people have joined thousands of people around the world in celebrating World Health Day 2010 by taking their first steps to a fitter future. I would encourage those who do not exercise regularly to begin slowly and not over exert themselves. However the most important thing is simply to enjoy yourself and have fun," he said.

(BMcc/GK)