Other NI News In Brief

Assault Suspect In Court

There is to be a court appearance today for a man, 25, charged over an attack outside a Co Tyrone bar, which left a father-of-six critically ill. The PSNI said that the 38-year-old victim was assaulted at 1.40am on Sunday in Killyclogher on the outskirts of Omagh. The man is due to appear before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday, while a 27-year-old woman was released pending further inquiries.

Ardoyne Bomb Defused

The police are today investigating a "viable device" that sparked a weekend security alert in north Belfast. They have urged anyone with any information to get in touch with on 0845 600 8000 after the discovery by workmen of a blast bomb in Ardoyne in north Belfast. Homes in the Etna Drive area were evacuated during the alert on Saturday. Army bomb experts later confirmed that the device contained "viable components" and described it as a "blast bomb-type device".

Alternative Energy Target Set

A total of 40% of electricity in Northern Ireland will come from alternative energy sources by 2020. Energy Minister Arlene Foster outlined the targets set out in the Strategic Energy Framework for Northern Ireland 2010 document. Offshore wind farms, tidal turbines and waste incinerators will be used to meet the target. The framework document stated "highlight the need for effective action against climate change and the need to address other policy goals in terms of security and sustainability of supply and costs," she said.

Taxi Driver To Be Buried Today

Murdered Cork taxi driver Michael Healy is to be buried today. Mr Healy, 62, was found murdered at his flat in Cork city last week. He was discovered with serious head injuries by his brother, Dermot, last Wednesday morning when he called to the flat at Rocksprings Terrace, St Luke's. His brother had become concerned when he had not heard from his brother for several days. A native of Grenagh in north Cork, Mr Healy was a separated father of two adult children who had lived for a period at Lagan Grove in Mayfield. However, for the past 10 years or so, had lived at the upstairs flat at Rocksprings Terrace.

'Free' Festival

The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's has launched a major online scheme to give away almost 600 free festival tickets. Building on the success of last year’s ticket give-away, the website www.ulsterbank.com/arts once again gives would-be festival goers across the region the chance to apply for free tickets to all festival events taking place on Wednesday October 27. Music fans can apply for free tickets to see Ava Astaire McKenzie host a musical tribute to her father in Putting on your Top Hat, Grammy award-winning artist Imogen Heap and the Jagodzinski Trio or for free tickets to see comic writer Roddy Doyle.

Burglaries Targeted

An Ulster Unionist member of the Policing Board, Leslie Cree, has welcomed the extension of a police operation aimed at reducing burglaries. "The extension of this operation is excellent news, both in terms of the potential for further arrests and indeed as proof of the success of this initiative," he said. "In a time of economic difficulty, when concerns about theft and burglary are understandably high, this is very welcome. For the PSNI to have planned and executed a four week pilot with such success that it has been translated into an ongoing operation is highly encouraging and must be commended."

Arson Escape Probed

The PSNI believe a blaze at a block of flats in Strabane where two men had to be rescued by emergency crews early on Monday morning was started deliberately. The Fire Service said they received a call to the blaze at the complex in Lisnaflin Park around 4am. One man was pulled from a property on the ground floor, the other from the first floor. An investigation is now underway but the blaze is being treated as malicious.

(BMcC/GK)