Man In Court Over Car Hijacking

A man has appeared at a Belfast court over the hijacking of a car which led to two children being injured in a crash.

The crash occurred at Ballysillan Park in north Belfast at 20:30 on Monday.

28-year-old Patrick John Pall Harmon from Cliftonpark Avenue has also been charged with robbery, GBH and possession of a knife with intent.

He has been remanded in custody.

Pearse Forgione, 18, from Manor Close in Belfast, is also charged with being in a stolen car with Mr Harmon.

The children involved in the crash were aged four and ten and have been treated in hospital for their injuries.

Hotel Guests Evacuated During Fire

About 160 guests at Ballymena Leighinmohr Hotel have been evacuated after a fire broke out in a store room.

30 firefighters and 6 fire appliances were at the scene.

Mainly smoke damage was caused, while the store room experienced flame damage.

It is thought the fire started accidentally.

Sacked Nurse Awarded Compensation

A nurse who was sacked for photographing a patient’s colostomy bag has been awarded £57,090 in compensation.

Ann Porter, a senior nurse at Parkdean Nursing Home in north Belfast, was sacked in 2011 after 42 years working as a nurse.

She had taken a photograph at the behest of a patient who was suffering a leaking colostomy bag, after the patient said he did not think he would be believed if he complained.

Ms Porter then ordered the man be cleaned and reported the matter to her line manager, using the picture as evidence.

But a colleague complained regarding the photograph and Ms Porter was eventually dismissed.

The tribunal overseeing the hearing found that whistleblower laws protected Ms Porter’s actions and that the photo had been taken to indicate the patient's "health and safety had been, was being or was likely to be endangered".

It also reported that the nursing home’s disciplinary hearing was flawed, and that the photograph had been made in good faith.

Fuel Laundering Discovered In Tyrone

Evidence of fuel laundering facilities has been found in County Tyrone.

HMRC, assisted by the PSNI, made the discovery while searching shed at the back of a private residence in the Pomeroy area.

In one shed, HMRC found and dismantled a laundering plant, while searches of a second shed revealed an illegal filling station.

The search was carried out with the presence of customs officials from France and Slovenia, who were visiting HMRC in Northern Ireland to share technical knowledge and expertise at the site.

Pat Curtis, National Oils Co-ordinator, HMRC, said: "Buying illicit fuel not only funds crime but supports and encourages these dangerous activities within our communities. The only winners are the criminals who are profiting at the expense of honest businesses. They are endangering the future viability of our legitimate fuel retail service."

(IT/GK)