Other News In Brief

Woman, 45, Bitten, Punched And Kicked

A 45-year-old woman has suffered a serious attack in north Belfast.

The incident happened in Ardoyne as she was walking home at about 03:30 on Sunday.

The woman was approached by a group of people on Flax Street and was assaulted.

She was repeatedly punched, kicked, stamped on and bitten during the attack., before being taken to hospital suffering an eye injury, bruising and bite marks.

The PSNI are appealing for any witnesses to contact them.

Man Fined For Water Pollution

An Omagh man has been fined £300 at Omagh Magistrates Court for causing water pollution.

Mr Malcolm Cathers pleaded guilty and received the fines, plus £19 court costs.

The charges came about due to the discovery by a Water Quality Inspector of a waterway at Moylagh Road which was discoloured and smelled of farm slurry.

A further investigation revealed 2.5km of the waterway was affected.

The source was then traced to Mr Cathers’s farm, where slurry was found overflowing from a tank, running across a field and down a drain leading to the waterway.

Samples taken confirmed it was highly polluting and flowing at a rate of approximately 60 litres per minute.

Body Discovered In Carrickfergus

Police have recovered a body suspected as being that of missing Ballycarry man Stephen Buchanan.

56-year-old Mr Buchanan was last seen on 26 September in the Groomsport/Millisle area around 14:30.

Investigations and a post-mortem are now being carried out to confirm whether or not the body, which was found in the upper reservoir on the Woodburn Road, Carrickfergus, on Saturday evening, is that of the missing man.

Arrests Made Over Race Hate Leaflets

Two men have been arrested following the distribution of National Front leaflets in south Belfast.

The two men, aged 33 and 49, are being held on suspicion of the act, which is being treated as intent to incite racial hatred.

It is alleged the leaflets were distributed in the Tates Avenue area over the weekend.

SDLP South Belfast MLA Conall McDevitt said he was made aware of the leaflets after being contacted by local residents.

He said: "I reported it immediately to the police who then initiated their investigation. Following this I tweeted about the incident, with the agreement of the PSNI, in an attempt to gain information.

"I felt compelled to do so because I was appalled at the distribution of such abhorrent leaflets in what is a very tolerant and cohesive community.

"I welcome the swift and decisive actions of the people in south Belfast who then passed on information to the police.

"This sends out a very clear message that this is a community made up of a proud, tolerant and diverse range of people who will not accept discrimination in any form."

(IT/GK)