Kidnap Accused Remanded

A 31-year-old woman has appeared at Antrim Magistrates Court today charged with kidnap and blackmail in connection with the abduction of a man in Randalstown. He was held hostage for 24 hours in the early hours of last Thursday and kept in the boot of his car by an armed gang who then called his mother to demand ransom money on Friday. Four other men arrested over the incident are still being questioned by police while Sabrina Andria McCooke, from Carrowreagh Road in Armoy, was remanded into custody.

Policing Board Discuss Parades

Two members of the NI Policing Board, Martina Anderson and Basil McCrea, have held a meeting with senior PSNI officers, C/Superintendent Stephen Martin and C/Superintendent Mark Hamilton on how issues arising from this year's parading season are being taken forward. Speaking after the meeting Basil McCrea, Chair of the Board's Human Rights and Professional Standards Committee said: "This was organised with the PSNI to discuss how best to address issues prior to up coming parades and next year's parading season and to work out a strategy of support for policing. We want to ensure that parading issues continue to be given ongoing priority and focus as we cannot afford a repeat of the serious disorder witnessed this year," he said, noting the Board is also aware of the work by the Justice Minister and we will be meeting the Minister in the coming weeks to discuss parading.

Lottery Cash 'Available'

The Stormont Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister Nelson McCausland has responded to media reports over National Lottery balances. The Minister said: "The funds are held centrally in the National Lottery Distribution Fund and drawn down as required by both SportNI and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) on the basis of need. I am deeply concerned by reports implying that large amounts of money is not being made available to local sporting and arts projects. This is not the case, funding held in the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) accounts and allocated to SportNI and ACNI will be fully utilised and indeed is already almost totally committed to existing projects. Nevertheless, I agree that it is especially important during these times of economic difficulties that all potential funding is made available as soon as possible," he said, noting that it is one of a number of issues that he will be raising with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt at a meeting next week.

Brandywell Project 'Kicks Off'

A decision on the redevelopment of Brandywell Stadium is expected within the fortnight, according to Derry City Football Club. The club's Chairman Phil O'Doherty said plans for a new 2.500 seater stand on the Lone Moor Road side of the stadium would "definitely go ahead". The green light from Derry City Council would also see the construction of new changing rooms, offices and corporate facilities. A spokesperson for the council said: "As previously stated, council received confirmation from Sport NI that its application for financial assistance, under Phase IV of the Stadia Safety Programme, has been approved in principle, and prioritized for funding. However, this is subject to Sport NI securing the required capital funds within the Comprehensive Spending Review for 2011-2014. The Council is awaiting the outcome of this review so that it can look at a number of options in the overall context of the regeneration of the city as a whole," Mr O'Doherty said, noting that he was informed that the project would move forward and that the overall programme from start to finish would take two years.

(BMcC/KMcA)