Booming Wonderful!

Flower power and those who use it to help make Belfast more attractive got their just awards in a ceremony at the City Hall. People across the city attended the Belfast in Bloom awards to hear the Chairman of the Parks and Leisure Committee, Councillor Steven Corr, thank them for their efforts to brighten Belfast for those who live, work or visit it. He explained that businesses are asked to sponsor some of the flower displays in the city centre or to decorate their own premises and these awards are always hard fought and that Botanic Inns Ltd received the top prize, the Isobel Bennet Memorial Award for their overall efforts in the city. Botanic Inns representatives, Anthony Kerry and Carol Anne Donaghy are pictured here with their trophy.

Mayor's U-Turn Welcomed

Yesterday's apology by Belfast's Sinn Fein Lord Mayor over his snubbing of a Duke of Edinburgh award winner because she was an Army cadet has been welcomed by the SDLP North Belfast Councillor Nichola Mallon: "It was unfortunate that such lack of judgement did so much damage to collective efforts by political parties at City Hall to show how they can work together. While an apology is welcome it does not solve the real problem. That problem has been caused by Sinn Fein and the DUP's failure at Stormont to deliver a proper 'Cohesion, Sharing and Integration' strategy," she said. "The SDLP is now challenging the two larger Parties at Stormont to produce a proper strategy which meets the requirement for true reconciliation - a key demand of the Good Friday Agreement." See: Mayor 'Sorry For Offence' Over Cadet Award

DNA 'Acceptable'

DNA evidence allegedly linking defendants to the murder of two REME soldiers was this week ruled as being allowed. The judge said that the pioneering computer method is indeed reliable and acceptable. Sappers Mark Quinsey, aged 23, of Highters Heath, Birmingham and Patrick Azimkar, 21, of London, were both shot outside the Massereene Army base in Antrim by the Real IRA as they collected pizzas with comrades in March 2009. Colin Duffy, from Lurgan, Co Armagh, and Brian Shivers, 46, from Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, deny two charges of murder and the attempted murder of six others - three soldiers, two pizza delivery drivers and a security guard.

Derry Forecourt Shut-down

A filling station in the Magherafelt area of Co Londonderry that was found to be selling illicit fuel has been closed down following a raid by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers yesterday. Officers tested samples of the fuel from the diesel tanks and a 17,000 litre fuel tank and the forecourt pumps were seized along with 2,300 litres of contaminated fuel as part of the operation.

Little Prince On Stage

The Little Prince is to enjoy its world premiere this weekend on the Northern Bank Stage of Belfast's Lyric Theatre. Running until January 15, this new adaption of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's timeless tale of the same name recounts the story of a pilot who crashes in the desert and meets a Little Prince. With music and lyrics penned by the next generation of the Lloyd Webber dynasty and his writing partner Reid, the full scale musical collaboration is a first for the talented duo whose repertoire includes composing music for the award-winning American medical drama Grey's Anatomy and Children’s BBC among others. For more information or to buy tickets log on to www.lyrictheatre.co.uk or contact the Box Office on (028) 9038 1081.

Lord Empey 'Takes Off'

Ulster Unionist Peer, Lord Empey has been elected as a Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Aerospace, which is now chaired by Wolverhampton North East Labour MP Emma Reynolds. Members of both Houses of Parliament and all parties, are involved and cover a wide range of topics, from those involved with individual countries to matters of policy interest to MPs and Lords. Lord Empey said: "I have had a long standing interest in Aerospace matters, especially as I represented East Belfast, the hub in Northern Ireland of the aerospace industry, but also because of my roles as both Enterprise and Employment Minister when I was at Stormont."

Shoppers Park Free

The NI Transport Minister, Danny Kennedy has announced free on-street parking in Belfast, Lisburn and Newry city centres in the run up to Christmas. From Monday, 5 December to Christmas Eve, inclusive, payment for on-street parking will be suspended from 4.30pm, Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, in Newry, Lisburn and the central zone of Belfast city centre. "This is the first time on-street paid parking enforcement has been suspended beyond Belfast city centre. I have also extended the scheme to include all day Saturday as well as after 4.30pm, from Monday to Friday," he said.

(BMcC/GK)