Men Charged Over Firearm Go Free

Four men have walked free from a court following charges of having a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession in suspicious circumstances and attempted burglary.

Ryan Neil Hagan, 27, Darren James McKee, 27 and David Carson Allen, 24, all from Newtownabbey appeared in court with Andrew David Boyd, 27, of Lurgan.

The men were arrested on Tuesday after PSNI officers stopped a car in west Belfast following an alleged attempted raid on a house.

But the men were freed after the court heard that only three men had been involved.

The defence had claimed they could not have been involved due to the specific allegations from the victim, which meant that one of the four had to be innocent.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall refused to remand any of the accused and all four were discharged from custody.

Armagh Fuel Laundering Plant Found

A suspected fuel laundering plant has been discovered in County Armagh.

Police made the find in the Drumgose Road area of Middletown on Wednesday.

No arrests have been made but some items used in connection with laundering fuel have been seized.

Customs officials have been informed.

NI Water Man Attacked With Stones

An employee with NI Water has been subjected to having stones thrown at him by a gang.

The man was carrying out work on Albert Street in the Divis area of the lower Falls Road in Belfast on Tuesday.

A NI Water vehicle was damaged in the incident.

Antrim Coast Hotel Extension Approved

A planned extension of Ballygally Castle Hotel on the Antrim Coast has been given the green light.

The approval will see an expansion of the lobby area and an additional six bedrooms added to the front of the hotel.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: "This extension is good news for boosting tourism in the Antrim Coast area. It also demonstrates my Department’s commitment to responding positively to tourist related proposals but only when they balance the enhancement and development of key tourist assets with the protection of our built heritage.

"This extension was initially set for refusal due to concerns over the Grade A listed 17th century tower house which is the only surviving structure of its type in Northern Ireland. However after discussions and amendments to the proposal this can now proceed in a way that preserves the integrity of the tower house.

"This means the hotel can develop in a way that protects jobs and boosts tourism but that will secure the upkeep of this tower house, which is so integral to the character and history of this building."

(IT)