Truancy Prevalent Among Protestants

Truancy in Northern Ireland’s post primary schools is more prevalent in Protestant areas, according to an Ulster Unionist MLA.

UUP member Roy Beggs made the announcement based on figures from the NI Statistics and Research Agency.

The Agency lists absenteeism by electoral ward.

According to the East Antrim MLA, 26 out of 30 wards with the poorest attendance records are in mainly Protestant areas.

While Mr Beggs acknowledged that truancy was also a problem in many nationalist areas, he said that the value of education in Protestant, working class areas needed to be addressed.

Mr Beggs is to table a motion in the assembly calling for urgent action to address the

situation.

Order Apology Over Church Urination

An Orange Order Chaplain has apologised to St Matthew’s Catholic Church after the drummer of a loyalist band was caught urinating on the church's premises.

The incident occurred during Saturday’s Ulster Covenant centenary commemoration parade on Saturday and made headlines after a photo was printed by the Irish News.

The Rev Mervyn Gibson visited St Matthew’s on the Newtownards Road following an earlier apology by Grand Secretary of the Order Drew Nelson.

Rev Gibson said the apology would be followed up with a letter to be read out to parishioners.

Speaking on BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster programme Mr Nelson said the incident was "outrageous and unacceptable".

He apologised unreservedly and said the Order would look into what happened.

"We are always trying to review things and we will be looking at this seriously", he said.

New A20 Maintenance Begins

A £220,000 maintenance scheme on the A20 Portaferry Road, Newtownards, has begun this week.

The commencement of the work, which is being undertaken in order to strengthen a wall, was announced by Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy.

The Minister said: "This sea-wall is hundreds of years old and is in need of repair as it is being undermined by the sea. This strengthening will increase the lifespan of the wall. To help minimise any inconvenience to the travelling public and local businesses the work is programmed to be completed using a lane closure and temporary traffic lights."

A portion of the work will be carried out under temporary traffic lights (three way taking into account the Mountstewart Road traffic movements) within working day restricted hours between 9.30am and 4.00pm.

The Executive said: "Roads Service has carefully programmed the works operations and traffic management arrangements in order to minimise any inconvenience to the public, however motorists should be aware that some delays may be expected and that additional time should be allowed when planning any journeys."

The work is expected to be completed in November of this year.

Michaela McAreavey's Murderers May Never Be Caught

Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte has expressed fears his daughter’s murderers may never be caught.

Michaela McAreavey (27) was murdered during her honeymoon in Mauritius in January 2011.

Mr Harte said the two months since two hotel workers were acquitted of murder charges had "not been easy" for his family.

"Obviously, it's not been easy, but it's about having the grace from God to put your trust in God and say ultimately that's where justice will come.

"If it comes on Earth, well and good, to date it doesn't seem to be the case", he said.

Mr Harte was speaking in Belfast's Casement Park yesterday as he and Michaela’s widower, John McAreavey, announced a football event in November in aid of the Michaela Foundation, which was established in the young bride's name last year.

(IT/GK)