Drowned Teen Buried

As the NI Police Ombudsman continues investigating the circumstances of his death, the funeral of the Londonderry schoolboy who drowned while fleeing from police officers on Wednesday has taken place. Kyle Bonnes, 15, got into difficulties in the River Faughan near Drumahoe after police were called to a disturbance on Glenshane Road. Despite attempts to rescue him, he was unconscious when he was pulled from the water and died a short time later.

Fund Raising Marathon

Friends of the Cancer Centre have said there's two key sporting challenges to consider to help raise funds for this important charity which supports cancer patients and their families by supplementing and enhancing the services provided at the Cancer Centre, NI's regional centre of excellence, at the Belfast City Hospital. The charity suggest the Belfast City Marathon on Monday 3rd May or a sponsored 150ft abseil challenge of the Europa Hotel in Belfast on Saturday 8th May. Registration fee is £20 and the charity hopes each abseiler will aim to raise £100 or more. Looking forward to a good turn out at both events, Colleen Shaw, Fundraising Manger for Friends of the Cancer Centre, said ring 028 9069 9393, to help raise funds.

Green Light For Loughshore Work

Over £100,000 is to be spent on the construction of a new outdoor performance area at Loughshore Park in Jordanstown. Local councillors have approved a tender submitted by M. Flynn & Sons Ltd for the work to be carried out at a cost of £107,548. The project is part of the £1.37 million masterplan to redevelop the park, which is being funded by the council and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Work on the scheme, which will also include improvements to the caravan park and the erection of several pieces of public art, is expected to be complete by March 2011.

Cash Bid For Power Cuts

Conservatives and Unionists candidate for East Antrim, Rodney McCune, has called on Northern Ireland Electricity to issue goodwill payments to customers affected by last week's power cuts. "Although East Antrim was not the worse affected region, I have spoken to people on my canvass who did suffer financial loss due to the recent power cuts. Raloo Village was particularly hard hit, with supply being off from Tuesday 30 March and only being re-established on Good Friday, 2 April. One elderly gentleman lost the contents of his freezer. He has home insurance, but has to pay a £100 excess fee and risks losing his no claims bonus. This means making a claim on his household contents insurance is pointless," he said. "I appreciate that the weather conditions which caused the power cut were severe, and NIE cannot be held responsible for freak weather, but, the Utility Regulator together with the Consumer Council should ensure than NIE quickly agree to and organise goodwill payments to customers who were 'in the dark' for more than 24 hours. NIE also need to review the quality and robustness of their infrastructure," he said, noting: "We need an electricity distribution system which can actually cope with this situation."

Carrick Alive!

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is bringing history to life with a step back in time on the town walls of Carrickfergus. It will recreate what life was like in the Co Antrim town from the 12th to 17th centuries. Paul Logue, NIEA Archaeologist, said: "Today's visitor to Carrickfergus will experience a town that is very different to the one that existed for most of its long history. We are asking visitors of all ages to come on each Sunday in April and learn more about the walls and life in the town. Visitors will meet characters from the town's history from John de Courcy, who built Carrickfergus Castle, to the town’s Mayor in the 16th century and his adversary Sorley Boy MacDonald," he said, noting that daily tours will depart at 11am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm from the Carrickfergus Castle ramp.

(BMcC/GK)