Blaze Woman 'Critical'

A bungalow was extensively damaged and a woman left critically ill in hospital following a house fire in Co Londonderry overnight. A man who tried to rescue her from the bungalow in Glenkeen Road in Aghadowey was also taken to hospital and is in a stable condition. The woman received oxygen and resuscitation at the scene from firefighters until she was stable enough to be moved.

Bellaghy Bomb Defused

A pipe bomb has been removed by the Army after being found in Bellaghy yesterday. The alert in the Ballynease Road area of the village ended late on Tuesday while a separate incident, in Dunmurry has also ended and has been declared a hoax. Residents in Redwood Dale had been moved from their homes for a time. Earlier bomb alerts in Tobermore in Co Londonderry and St James' Road in west Belfast were also declared hoaxes.

Fake Goods Fine

A Belfast Trader selling counterfeit MAC, Bobbi Brown and Chanel eye make-up was this week fined a total of £240 plus costs at Belfast Magistrates' Court. In a case brought by the Trading Standards Service of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mr Kevin Higgins, pleaded guilty to four charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994. In December 2009, Trading Standards Officers visited Mr Higgins's premises at the Dairy Farm shopping complex, Stewartstown Road, Belfast, where they found the counterfeit mascaras, eyeliners and eye shadows on sale.

MLA Slams Attack

The East Belfast DUP MLA Robin Newton has said that he is ashamed that a gang of local youths stoned a bus coming from the Dundonald Ice Bowl injuring three German visitors. "At this time of economic difficulty when Northern Ireland is increasingly reliant on tourism to support jobs in the economy this type of incident is disgraceful. This action will be condemned by all right thinking people," he said, last night.

Tree Alert

A plant disease caused by a fungus-like pathogen known as Phytophthora ramorum (P.ramorum), has been diagnosed on Japanese larch for the first time in NI. Forest Service Chief Executive, David Small, has confirmed outbreaks of the disease in woodlands on the Antrim plateau. The pathogen has potential to attack a wide range of woody plants and could cause significant damage to woodland and other habitat. It can be spread on footwear, vehicle wheels, tools and machinery, by the movement of infected plants and in rain, mists and air currents. "It is important that we do everything to minimise the risk of the disease becoming established in our woodlands as it has the potential to cause significant damage. The Department has taken appropriate steps to contain these outbreaks and based on scientific advice, infected Japanese larch on both public and private land will be felled. This is the best method for controlling this disease and preventing further damage. Forest visitors are asked to observe any signage indicating the action they can take to help prevent spread of the disease, such as keeping to forest roads, keeping dogs on leads and removing soil and mud from shoes and boots before leaving the woodland," he said.

MindWise Accolade

The NIO Minister of State Hugo Swire - who has responsibility for promoting the UK-wide Big Society agenda - has today visited the headquarters of the independent mental health charity MindWise at the invitation of Chief Executive Bill Halliday. The Minister toured the centre and was given a presentation on the vital work that MindWise undertakes with people affected by mental health illness and other related difficulties. "I want to pay tribute to the excellent work that MindWise undertakes and for the support that they offer to those suffering from mental illness which affects one in four of the population. Organisations like MindWise show us that 'Big Government' does not have all the answers and that they can offer tailored practical help and so have a vital part to play in the Big Society that the Government is determined to help foster," he commented.

Poke Man Raided

An ice cream van alleged to have been used to sell smuggled cigarettes has been seized by Customs officers in Carrickfergus. It was one of a series of operations across Northern Ireland from Friday, in which thousands of litres of fuel and cigarettes were recovered.

Ford For Farset

The Justice Minister David Ford has visited Farset International in Belfast to hear about their work in interface communities. The Minister heard the views and experiences of staff from the Farset Respect Project who are involved in community engagement in one of the most difficult interface areas. "Problems such as social deprivation, unemployment and anti-social behaviour are often inter-related, and affect our interface communities in particular. Our Executive Departments need to work together to tackle these problems, and an effective CSI programme will be a vital element. But the Executive will also need to work with people on the ground, and encourage and empower them to develop and share their creative local solutions," he said. "This facility and the projects run by Farset are a good example of how work in local communities, for local communities, will play a crucial role in ensuring that the CSI Programme and other Executive initiatives can be delivered in a way which have positive, tangible results on the ground."

(BMcC/KMcA)