Industrial Accident Fatal

There was tragedy last week when a 35-year-old man died after a portable conveyor belt fell on top of him at a recycling business, Emerald Isle Recycle in Randalstown. It happened on Friday afternoon and a spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said inspectors had been informed and were now investigating the incident.

Jail Rocked By Fake Alert

The security alert at Maghaberry prison has been declared an elaborate hoax. Earlier, a PSNI spokesperson had said a suspicious object was found in the prison grounds and said that Army technical officers had been sent to the jail to examine the object.

Powerful Deal Agreed

Ballylumford power station has been sold for £99m to the owners of Kilroot power station. The AES Corporation said it had reached agreement to acquire the gas-fired Ballylumford Premier Power, a subsidiary of the BG Group. The majority of the County Antrim plant's output is contracted to Northern Ireland Electricity.

Reporter Mourned

A well known local journalist, Roisin Walsh, died at the weekend following a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease. A former UTV journalist, Roisin died at Downe Hospital in Downpatrick with her husband, fellow broadcaster, David Dunseith said to be devastated. He had been by the bedside of his 71-year-old wife every day since she was admitted to hospital more than a month ago. It is understood Roisin had suffered the illness for almost a year.

Fees 'Take Off' For Planning View

Taking a leaf from the 'budget airlines' the NI Environment Minister has said he is considering charging the public to view planning files. Edwin Poots told his Stormont committee that it was purely a budgetary issue. The fee could be set at about £10 or £15. Mr Poots said he had not made any final decisions but planning fees structures were being looked at as part of the reform process. At the moment, members of the public can view any planning file free of charge - and relatively recently - luggage could still be checked-in for an aircraft for the inclusive fare, with a menu arrangement now in place for such luxuries as that or for picking the seat allocation in advance. Now, Minister Poots is looking at charging for such individual items in the planning process, using the same revenue-generating philosophy as the Ryanairs/Easyjets of the airline industry.

Jobs Boost Welcomed

The East Belfast DUP MLA Robin Newton has welcomed the opening and growth of the Barclay Communications Call Centre in east Belfast. "It is a welcome step that businesses are once again recognising the opportunities open to them to expand their services, and as we work towards refocusing the local economy on the private sector, improving service delivery and competition should be foremost in the minds of both new entrants and those with expansion in mind. I am optimistic that this is the first of many announcements is the months ahead which will show we are turning around, and are working towards a brighter future," he said.

(BMcC/GK)