Mills Attacker Was Victim's Cousin

The case of the murder of David Mills in Ballynahinch has heard new revelations involving the victim’s cousin.

30-year-old John Stanley Foster of Carrigvale, Dundrum, is David Mills’s cousin by marriage.

He was charged with the murder of Mr Mills and appeared at Newtownards Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Mr Mills, 47, was a former Irish league footballer from Dundrum. He was killed in an attack in Ballynahinch at the weekend.

Mr Foster was remanded in custody. He spoke only to confirm he understood the charge during the hearing.

He is due appear in Downpatrick court via video link later in October.

Cannabis Smugglers Convicted

Two Northern Irish men have been convicted in Scotland of attempting to smuggle £750,000 of cannabis into Northern Ireland.

Kieran Murphy and Laurence McAllister were charged with conspiring to traffic drugs into Belfast and were described as being "near the top of the drug dealing tree" at the trial.

The initial seizure of their illegal cargo occurred at Loch Ryan ferry port, when police searched a lorry the pair were travelling in.

The lorry had originally been used to transport horses. Murphy, an unemployed plasterer who lives in Rathfriland, County Down, had been driving the vehicle.

McAllister, a horse dealer, was with him when the two men were stopped by officers at the ferry port in April.

Police found four large bags filled with cannabis resin between two occupied horse stalls in the lorry. The cannabis had been divided into bags and covered with molasses to mask the smell.

The two men are currently in jail awaiting sentencing.

Fr Donnelly Jury Discharged

The jury overseeing the Fr Peter Donnelly abuse trial has been discharged.

The priest was accused of sexually abusing a young girl in the eighties

Fr Donnelly, of Drumaroad Hill in Castlewellan, denies six counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency at the parochial house of St Matthew’s Church, where he had been curate.

But the jury told the court they had failed to reach a verdict when they were called into Belfast Crown Court following three hours of deliberation.

Judge Gordon Kerr QC told them he would accept a majority verdict but they were discharged after the judge was told there was a stalemate.

Traffic Congestion Group Set Up

A new group has been set up to tackle traffic congestion in Belfast city centre, following the introduction of controversial new bus lanes.

The group will consist of multi-agencies, including DRD, Roads Service, the police, Translink, city centre traders and the council.

The recent developments in the city centre to accommodate new bus lanes have caused controversy amongst the public and traders.

Talks between politicians and senior Department for Regional Development officials led to the establishment of the group.

The group will meet at least every fortnight over a two-month period.

Lord Mayor Gavin Robinson, who chaired the meeting, said: "By bringing together all of these key players we will aim to address the issues many of our residents and those who work in the city have brought to us."

(IT/GK)