Bar Blasted On Crowds

A Belfast bar owner has been fined a total of £1,500 for a number of breaches of his entertainments licence. Stephen Nixon, t/a White's Tavern in Winecellar Entry, in the city centre, was fined for overcrowding on the premises on two separate occasions, and for a fire alarm system that was not working properly when it was inspected. The prosecutions were brought by Belfast City Council. Mr Nixon was also ordered to pay £78 in costs.

Quake Trial Condemned

The Italian authorities have put six seismologists on trial for manslaughter following a quake that devastated the city of LAquila in 2009. The court case, which opened last week and adjourned until October 1, has gripped the attention of research scientists around the world. Media reports have likened it to science being put on trial. University of Ulster earthquake expert Professor McCloskey, who is Professor of Geophysics, is among 5,000 scientists who have signed a letter to the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in support of the defendants. They say the authorities should focus on earthquake protection rather than pursuing the scientists through the courts. The Ulster academic says the trial and possible convictions, which could result in 15-year jail terms, could torpedo researchers' willingness to share life-saving knowledge with governments and civil protection agencies around the world.

Food To Go

A south Belfast hot food outlet has been fined a total of £700 for three breaches of food hygiene legislation. Rayed Nathem Zibari, proprietor of The Soprano in University Street, was also ordered to pay costs of £75 at Belfast Magistrates' Court. Mr Zibari was prosecuted by Belfast City Council for various offences under Regulation 17 (1) of the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 - namely failing to ensure the construction of the premises permitted good food hygiene practices and protected against pests, failing to keep food premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition, and failing to control food pests in the food storage and preparation areas and throughout the premises.

Frauds Fined

Two people were convicted at Newry Magistrates' court yesterday for claiming benefits they were not entitled to. Tara Sands (28) of Limewood, Banbridge claimed Income Support, Housing Benefit and Rates Relief totalling £4,283 while failing to declare employment. She was given a conditional discharge for two years and ordered to pay court costs of £37. Martin Montgomery (43) of Bridge Street, Dromore, was given a three-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay court costs of £44 for wrongful encashment of Income Support totalling £525. Both are also required to repay the money they wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

Polluter Pays

A Co Armagh farmer was fined £3,000 plus £28 court costs at Craigavon Magistrates' Court this week. Reginald Gardiner, of Summerhill, Lurgan, was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway. On 13 December 2010, Water Quality Inspectors acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency observed a heavy growth of fungus on the bed of a waterway which crosses the Monbrief Road, Craigavon. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to a farm owned by Mr Gardiner. A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, which would have been potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving watercourse.

Coleraine Schools Funded

The NI Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced funding of over £33,000 for an educational employability programme for Coleraine schools. The DUP Minister said: "This project will provide children and young people from the most disadvantaged parts of Coleraine with an opportunity to invest in their own future. It will increase their employability and enterprise skills, self-awareness and business and economic understanding. Four hundred and fifty pupils from eight local schools will benefit from attending," he said, adding: "The project will be delivered by Causeway Enterprise Agency and facilitated by local entrepreneurs. The programme will promote enterprise and entrepreneurship to pupils via three interlinking elements called Potato Challenge, Business Battleground and The Festival by Willow. The project also aims to promote links within and between communities and break down barriers and misunderstandings in young people.

Titanic Jobs Opportunity

Job opportunities at Titanic Belfast - to be one of the world's largest Titanic visitor attractions - will be previewed at a special Community Information Day in Belfast City Hall this month. The drop-in event, scheduled for Thursday 20 October between 12 noon and 4pm, is being run by Belfast City Council in partnership with the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) and Titanic Belfast. As well as hearing directly from the Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast, Tim Husbands, on areas of employment including retail, catering, hospitality and security, attendees will hear from and be able to speak directly with representatives from a range of training organisations to learn more about the skills they will need to compete for posts as they're advertised over the coming months. The Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile said: "It is important that the development of Titanic Quarter offers opportunities for everyone in the city. The Titanic Belfast Community Information Day is an excellent pre-employment event offering attendees the chance to 'skill-up' prior to recruitment for the posts," he said.

(BMcC/GK)