Other NI News In Brief

Alliance 'Leads'

Delivering his keynote speech at the party's conference on Saturday, David Ford the Justice Minister and Alliance leader (pictured) said he has a "positive vision" and that it distinguishes Alliance from the rest of Northern Ireland's politicians. "I will leave it to other parties to engage in negative campaigns and personal venom which they do so well, because we are far too busy with a positive vision," Mr Ford said. He said that the Alliance Party made strides in the past year, gaining its first minister when Mr Ford secured the Department of Justice position created last April. Then in May, former Belfast Lord Mayor Naomi Long was elected MP for East Belfast at the expense of DUP leader Peter Robinson. A number of new members have also joined the party's ranks in recent months, including ex-UUP Westminster candidates Paula Bradshaw and Harry Hamilton.

UDR Memorial Welcomed

Ulster Unionist Leader, Tom Elliott, has expressed his delight that a memorial to the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) is to be created and placed on permanent display in Lisburn, where the Regiment was first formed in 1970. "I am absolutely delighted that the regiment is going to be remembered in the form of a permanent sculpture. The UDR was a marvellous organisation, dedicated to defending Northern Ireland and upholding law and order. It did not shirk from the responsibility of holding firm when the pressure from terrorism was at its peak, but rather personified heroism and patriotism, aspects of the Regiment that I am sure the sculpture will capture," he said. "Undoubtedly the memorial will provide a focal point for those of us who remember the UDR with fondness, thankfulness and a great sense of pride."

Fire Rescues

A third weekend rescue saw a 47-year-old woman saved from a house fire in the Derrybeg area of Newry on Sunday. The alarm was raised by the woman's 18-year-old daughter after she smelt smoke around 9am on Sunday and four firefighters entered the building and found the woman behind a bedroom door and removed her to safety. On Saturday, two women were rescued after a fire broke out in a block of maisonette flats in Newtownabbey. The 42-year-old woman was found unconscious in a bedroom in one of the properties at Rathcoole Drive after midnight on Saturday. She was brought outside and given oxygen before being transferred to hospital. Fire crews also broke into another flat and rescued an 84-year-old woman after the initial blaze started accidentally. In Co Tyrone a man rescued his wife and two children from their burning house before running barefoot to the local fire station to raise the alarm. The blaze began in a ground floor bedroom at the terraced house in Omagh's Old Mountfield Road shortly before 3pm on Saturday.

Spina Bifida Supported

The Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (ASBAH) in Northern Ireland want to hear from any individuals and families affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Steve McCrudden, ASBAH NI Western Area Advisor, said: "ASBAH has a proud track record of helping families throughout Northern Ireland, but there are still hundreds of families, maybe more, facing a life with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus, who have no idea that our organisation is here to help and support them. Thats why we are asking local media to help us find new members to join our community of individuals, families, friends and professionals," he said. Anyone with hydrocephalus and/or spina bifida, who would like to join the charity should call the Western Area Adviser Steve McCrudden on 02871811949 or 0778 9616 451.

Belfast Device Slammed

South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey has hit out at those responsible for leaving a bomb in Cadogan Park in south Belfast at the weekend. "The disruption caused by this device serves no purpose other that to disrupt the lives of the local population and shows a total disregard for the community. Those responsible have nothing to offer other than causing disruption and creating the potential for someone to lose their lives. They are out of touch with the will of the vast majority of the people in Ireland who have indicated that they want to move forward without this type of disruption," he said.

(BMcC/GK)