'Missing' Child's Parents Discharged

Toddler Sophie Anderson's mum and dad - who had been accused of abducting her and taking her to Scotland have received 12-month conditional discharges. Lucy Anderson, 30, and 22-year-old Struart Creaney were in Armagh Magistrates court on Friday. Sophie had been with foster parents for more than a year, but was in contact with her birth parents. The couple pleaded guilty to the abduction. The magistrate described the case as 'tragic and sad' and said the concern was over the couples capability to take care of the child. The magistrate emphasised that the child was not in danger from any other aspect of parental care. See: Missing Child Located In Scotland

Downpatrick Alert 'Bomb'

A suspicious object in Downpatrick has been identified as a bomb. It was found in the Mount Crescent area of Downpatrick on Thursday just before 3pm and led to a number of families leaving their homes as army bomb experts moved in to examine the object. They took it away and police have confirmed that it was a "viable device".

Bloody Sunday 'Leaks'

The families of those killed on Bloody Sunday have criticised the leaking of some of the details of the Saville Inquiry findings. A newspaper said that it will conclude that a number of the fatal shootings of civilians by British soldiers were unlawful killings. The Guardian also claims that soldiers may face prosecution over fatal civilian shootings after the 12-year inquiry.

Canal Man 'Critical'

The man who was pulled from Newry Canal by a passer-by yesterday morning is in a critical condition in hospital. He was found in the water close to the Quays Shopping Centre shortly after 10am.

Track Murder Call Renewed

This week police renewed their appeal for information about the death of a Coleraine teenager who died after he was struck by a train in Portrush on January 30 last year. The murder appeal came on the day he should have been celebrating his 16th birthday. Detectives said he had been at a birthday party in McLaughlin's bar and that during the evening he was assaulted and later chased from the bar towards the railway track where he was hit by a train and died instantly. It also emerged that prosecutors are expected to decide within weeks whether to prosecute a man in his 20s and a 17-year-old youth over the tragedy.

Labour Surge

A shock opinion poll has shown that trouble has again deepened for Taoiseach Brian Cowen as support for him and Fianna Fail dropped significantly. The Labour Party has dramatically become the best-supported party in the Republic with the surprise results of a poll that was taken on Tuesday and Wednesday now being made public. That was even before the reports into the banking crisis, which were highly critical of his tenure as Finance Minister, were published.

Kids Park Bomb Alert

The PSNI have slammed those behind a viable bomb that had been left near a children's play area in Strabane. At about 5.15pm on Wednesday, the PSNI said Army bomb experts had made the device safe after it was found at Carlton Drive in the Co Tyrone town. A police spokesman said it was "reckless in the extreme to abandon a device close to a children's play area".

PUP Leader Stays

GP Dr John Kyle will remain as stand-in leader of the Progressive Unionists, a spokesman for the party said this week. The Belfast doctor took over as head of the UVF-linked group following the resignation of its only Assembly member Dawn Purvis who stood down after the UVF was blamed for murdering Bobby Moffett, 43, on the Shankill Road. A special meeting of the party leadership on Wednesday decided to continue with Dr Kyle as the head of the group.

Sniff Death 'Regretted'

The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust said it regretted the death of the Belfast ttenage girl whose body was found in following suspected solvent abuse. The girl, aged 15, was staying in Ashgrove residential care home for young people but was discovered in nearby Glenford Park early on Monday. Police are not treating her death as suspicious but are investigating the circumstances.

Gulf Fitness Contract Won

A Co Down company, MWM Sports Management Group (MWM), which has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland, has been hired by a fitness club in the Arabian Gulf to help its management team achieve peak performance. The contract with the exclusive Sharjah Ladies Fitness Club, is the first time the club has agreed to a male trainer working with its exclusively female management team in the development of high performing teams. The coaching is being provided by Max Williamson, Performance Coach, Managing Director and founder of the Holywood-based firm, supported by the company's Dubai-based staff. Invest NI's Technology and Development Centre in Dubai has provided practical support and guidance about business practices in the Gulf.

(BMcC/GK)