Other News In Brief

'Suspicious' Royal Mail Package 'Non-Hazardous

A suspicious package that caused the evacuation of a Royal Mail delivery office in east Belfast to be evacuated has been found to be non-hazardous.

Police and fire crews attended the scene in Prince Regent Street off the Castlereagh Road.

Two postmen who had handled the package were examined by the ambulance service but did not require further medical treatment.

The building was evacuated after the item was reported at around 11:00 on Tuesday.

Taxi Depot Owner Fined

A Belfast taxi depot owner has pleaded guilty and been fined a total of £500 at Belfast Magistrate’s Court in relation to taxi licensing offences.

Edward Wilson Vaughan of Ballycairn Drive, Belfast, was fined £100 for each of two counts of providing an unlicenced vehicle and driver, £100 plus six penalty points for each of two counts of having no insurance and £100 on one count of failing to produce documents for inspection.

He also received a total of 12 penalty points and was ordered to pay costs of £28 and an offenders levy of £15.

The charges relate to 29 June 2013, when a DVA Enforcement Officer phoned Belvoir Taxis and ordered a taxi from Old Milltown Road in Belfast.

A taxi was used to convey the officer to his destination; however follow up checks revealed that both the vehicle and the driver were unlicensed.

Then on 3 August 2013 a DVA Enforcement Officer phoned Belvoir Taxis and ordered a taxi from Old Milltown Road in Belfast. A taxi was dispatched and was used to convey the officer to his destination.

It became apparent to the officer that the vehicle and driver were not licensed and the vehicle was detained at the scene where the driver was formally interviewed.

On 17 October 2013 Edward Wilson Vaughan, owner of Belvoir Taxis was formally interviewed; however at that time he denied any involvement in both incidents.

Men Guilty Of Fisheries Offences

Three men have been found guilty of fisheries offences at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

Gediminas Mikoliunas of Ballybay Avenue, Portadown, was found guilty of two charges of unlicenced fishing, fishing for trout during the annual close season, possession of fish of unlawful capture and taking pike weighting more than four kilos.

He was sentenced to two months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and fined a total of £220 with costs of £150, court costs of £38 and an offender levy of £15.

At the same court, Marius Sudeikis of Glen Park, Coalisland, was found guilty of four charges of unlicenced fishing and a further charge of unauthorised entry on a fishery.

He was fined a total of £210, costs of £75, court costs of £19 and an offender levy of £15.

Also at Craigavon Magistrates Court, Artoras Puplauskas of Manderley Court, Portadown, was found guilty of unlicenced angling and unauthorised entry on a fishery.

He was fined £70, with costs of £75 court costs of £19 and an offender levy of £15.

Five Convicted Over Benefit Fraud

Five people have been convicted at Belfast Magistrates’ Court for claiming benefits they were not entitled to.

31-year-old Glenn Hoogelander of Loughview Meadows, Belfast claimed Jobseekers Allowance totalling £4,315 while failing to declare employment. He was given 60 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £37.

35-year-old Roisin Saunders of Carlisle Road, Belfast claimed Income Support totalling £4,324 while failing to declare employment. She was given a three month prison sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay court costs of £37.

53-year-old Margaret Murphy of Flaxton Place, Belfast claimed Income Support totalling £2,048 while failing to declare employment. She was given 75 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £40.

Danielle McCaffery, 25, of Coolnasilla Park West, Belfast claimed Income Support totalling £2,554 while failing to declare employment. She was given 50 hours community service and ordered to pay court costs of £34.

Katherine McConville, 29, of Madrid Street, Belfast claimed Employment and Support Allowance totalling £5,037 while failing to declare employment. She was given a 12 month probation order and ordered to pay court costs of £31.

(IT)