Cancer Centre Recruitment Begins

A recruitment drive has begun to acquire over 200 staff for a new cancer centre in L’Derry.

The Western Health Trust has begun recruiting for the new £50m development at Altnagelvin Hospital, which is due to open in 2016.

A public meeting on Monday was attended by around 100 people, eager to hear about the new plans.

The Trust has begun consulting with universities to ensure there will be places at the new centre for training.

'Punishment Shooting' In Newry Condemned

A man has been shot in both ankles in Newry, County Down.

The incident occurred in Ardcarn Park just before 21:00 on Monday evening.

The 25-year-old victim was taken to Daisy Hill Hospital and was later moved to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Dominic Bradley condemned the attack as a "punishment shooting" and urged anyone with information to go to the police.

"No one has the right to take the law into their own hands in so-called 'punishment shootings' which by this time should be consigned to the past," he said.

Youths Charged Over Translink Robberies

A Belfast High Court has heard how four teenagers used a meat cleaver, a hammer and a knife to rob two Translink bus drivers during the summer.

One boy faces two charges of robbing Translink of £55 and £20, while the three older boys are alleged to have used weapons in the hold-ups at the Monkstown estate in Newtownabbey.

Metro drivers refused to enter the estate for a while following the incidents, which saw their colleagues threatened and forced to hand over cash.

Bus services were withdrawn on 15 July and 28 August.

Nicola Auret, prosecuting, said: "As I understand it, on one occasion a meat cleaver was wielded, (and) a hammer.

"In the second robbery, this applicant's older brother was carrying a four-inch kitchen knife and the two others were carrying a brick each."

A judge was told by the younger boy’s defence that his brother pressured the 14-year-old into taking part.

Omagh Kidnap Suspect Released

A man who was arrested by PSNI over an Omagh kidnap investigation has been released.

The 28-year-old man was arrested as part of a serious crime operation with five other people. The others remain in custody.

The ongoing investigation relates to charges of false imprisonment and blackmail.

Four men and a woman were detained at the weekend. One of the group was arrested in Scotland.

PSNI detectives were granted a further 36 hours on Monday to continue their questioning of the five suspects.

The searches were carried out on Saturday evening and Sunday morning in Omagh and in Scotland.

(IT)