Other News In Brief

Five Arrested Over Paramilitary Activity

Five men have been arrested by police investigating paramilitary activity.

On Thursday morning, the men, aged 31, 53, 58 and 62, were detained at a number of addresses in the Dungiven area of Co L'Derry.

It is understood a number of house searches are currently being undertaken in Dungiven.

A fifth man, aged 31, was later arrested in the Antrim area, police said.

Detective Chief Inspector Una Jennings, from the PSNI's Serious Crime Branch, said: "We are investigating various forms of paramilitary activity in the area, predominantly over the last four years.

"These include shooting incidents and threats. The suspects have been taken to the Serious Crime Suite at Antrim police station for questioning."

NI Water Fined For Pollution Offence

Northern Ireland Water Ltd (NIW) has been fined £300 after pleading guilty to a pollution offence.

The fine related to a charge of making a polluting discharge from the Ros-Na-Rig Wastewater Pumping Station (WWPS) in Mullaghboy, Islandmagee.

On 27 August 2013, a Senior Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, inspected a waterway at Lunnon Road in Islandmagee and observed the waterway to be cloudy with grey fungal growth. They also detected a sewage smell.

A sample taken at the time confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway. The length of waterway affected by the discharge was in excess of 150 metres.

NI Water had adopted the pumping station in January last year, but an application for a Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 consent to discharge from the pumping station was not received until 3 February 2014.

New Chair Appointed To Belfast Harbour Board

A new Chair has been appointed to the Board of Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

Dr David Dobbin will be responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the Port of Belfast. He will take up the appointment of Chair after having been a non-executive member of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners Board since 1 February 2012.

The appointment takes effect from 1 January 2015, for four years, until 31 December 2018.

(JP/CD)