Sun Worshippers

Premier league Fulham striker, Andrew Johnson looks set to take care in the sun with the help of Sandra Gordon, Ulster Cancer Foundation and Lizzie Lumsden, Lidl Northern Ireland. The charity's Care in the Sun Campaign is supported by Lidl Northern Ireland who will be donating 10% of the retail price of every Cien sun care product sold from Monday 3rd May to Sunday 30th May at all Lidl stores across NI.

Lurgan On Alert

There's a security alert in progress in Co Armagh this morning. It is on the Kilwilkie Road in Lurgan and follows the discovery of a suspect object earlier. The PSNI said that Army bomb experts are at the scene and that detectives from the serious crime branch have arrested a man in connection with the find.

Smoking Van Man Fined

A man has been fined at Belfast Magistrates Court for smoking in his work vehicle. James Bacon, from City Walk in west Belfast, was fined £60 and ordered to pay costs of £69 after he was caught smoking in his work van on June 11, 2009 on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast. The prosecution was brought by Belfast City Council. Under the Smoking (NI) Order 2006 it is against the law to smoke in vehicles used for work purposes or any public vehicle.

Mail Men Get 'London Posting'

Three postal workers from Northern Ireland will be heading off to London next month to attend an awards ceremony to find the best postmen and women in the country. The three, Gerry Magennis, employed at the Northern Ireland Mail Centre, Mallusk, Martin Armstrong, from Belfast South Delivery Office and Douglas Fillis from Coleraine Delivery Office have just been announced as the NI winners in their respective categories of bravery, charity fundraising, and community involvement for the tremendous work they do within their local communities. They go forward to the national finals, with the chance to win the title Royal Mail 'Postman of the Year'.

Slab Murphy Bailed

A prominent republican facing tax evasion charges has been remanded on bail again during a long-running attempt to stop his trial. Thomas 'Slab' Murphy appeared before Dublin's Special Criminal Court over nine charges first brought against him almost two-and-a-half years ago. The alleged former IRA chief is taking a lawsuit against the State in the High Court because he was sent for trial to the non-jury Special Criminal Court, usually the preserve of terrorist trials.

Airlines May Receive 'Ash Aid'

The European Union has met to discuss the possible provision of aid for airlines struck by the volcano ash crisis. The EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas announced any government financial aid to airlines resulting from the crisis must be based on uniform criteria at the EU level. The EU is seeking "to ensure that there will be first of all a fair approach concerning different airlines", Commissioner Kallas said in Brussels. "Any support granted by member states must respect a level playing field," he said. "State aid is not a miracle," Kallas said. "There is not a sack of money somewhere available which is waiting for such a crisis."

(BMcC/GK)