Other NI News In Brief

Bruins For Belfast

When the Boston Bruins come to Belfast to battle the Belfast Giants this October, the icing on the cake will be a gala celebration of the best of business champions from both cities. For the sixth year the annual Belfast Business Top 50 celebration at Stormont will take on a Boston tea party theme in honour of the high-powered business delegation accompanying the team. Sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland and Grafton Recruitment, the Top 50 luncheon will be addressed by Department of Social Development Minister Alex Attwood and Chair of the Judiciary Committee in the Massachusetts State House, Rep Eugene O'Flaherty. Pictured at the launch of the event are (from left) Oonagh Hinds, Invest NI, Angie Johnston, Grafton Recruitment and Colin Shields, Captain, Belfast Giants.

Village Suffers Bomb Alert

The Main Street in Tobermore was closed on Thursday following the discovery of a suspicious object. Police put traffic diversions in place and cordoned off the scene while Army explosives experts were called and examined the object.

Youth Shot In Legs

The police are appealing for witnesses and have said they are looking for help to find a particular car after a teenager was shot in the legs by four masked men in the Falls Road area of west Belfast. The gang used an old-style silver Peugeot 406 estate to abduct the 18-year-old on La Salle Drive at around 10pm on Wednesday. He was driven about two miles to Corrib Avenue, in the Lenadoon area, where he was taken out of the car and shot twice, once in each leg. He was taken to hospital for treatment for non life-threatening injuries.

Away Match 'Free'

NI soccer fans travelling to Montenegro for next month's friendly will receive their tickets for free, with the Irish FA covering the costs as a token of the Association's appreciation towards loyal fans. The Football Federation of Montenegro had informed the Irish FA that tickets for the game on August 11 would be at a nominal price, so the Association decided to distribute the tickets to supporters for free.

Hate Crime Targeted

Justice Minister David Ford has said that addressing hate crime will be integral to the new Community Safety Strategy for NI. The Minister was responding to the publication of a follow-up inspection by the Criminal Justice Inspectorate on the management of hate crime by the criminal justice system. The report acknowledges the progress that has been made in recent years while highlighting that more can be done. "This report highlights many examples of very positive work within the criminal justice system. The PSNI in particular are to be commended for their work and I would hope to see this excellent work continuing," he said, noting however: "I am disappointed at the lack of progress on a number of recommendations and it is clear that more needs to be done. The criminal justice system cannot be complacent in its approach to addressing hate crime, and I have instructed my officials to take forward the outstanding recommendations as a matter of urgency."

Gulf Success For Video Firm

Digital technology specialist Bubble (NI) has won its first business in Saudi Arabia from its participation in an Invest Northern Ireland trade mission to the important Gulf marketplace. The Belfast-based company is to provide a series of Arab and English language video presentations on health and safety issues to United Arab Can Manufacturing Company (UAC) in Damman, a business producing 1.4 billion cans a year for international clients to customers throughout the Middle East. The videos will be based on the company's successful and highly adaptable 'Speechbubble' software platform. The animated videos are being developed by Bubble and will run in a continuous loop on screens across the huge factory to highlight health and safety procedures.

Security Costs Judged

Security for judges in Northern Ireland is hitting the taxpayer with a bill of nearly £5m. Justice Minister David Ford revealed the figure in response to a question by Lord Morrow in the Assembly yesterday and said the cost of police protection for crown and high court judges in 2008/09 was more than £4.77m, with £85,588 being spent on district judges. He also said the security bill for the NI Court Service was £40,589.

(BMcC/KMcA)