Other News In Brief

Interim Social Fund Commissioner Named

Mervyn Storey MLA, Northern Ireland's Social Development Minister, has announced the appointment of Walter Rader as Interim Social Fund Commissioner for Northern Ireland.

The Social Fund was introduced in 1988 and comprises of two parts – one regulated and the other discretionary. The Social Fund Commissioner is concerned solely with the discretionary part of the fund, which is a scheme of payments by grant or interest free loan to meet the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable in society. The Commissioner has no involvement in the regulated part of the fund which allows for payments for funeral and maternity expenses, periods of cold weather and winter fuel.

Mr Rader will be responsible for appointing and training Social Fund Inspectors and monitoring the quality of the inspectors' decisions. He will take up his new position from 1 July 2015, for an initial six month period.

Residents Withdraw From Carrick Hill Protest

Residents from Carrick Hill have agreed to cancel their planned protest at a Tour of the North Parade due to held in Belfast this evening. The annual parade involves some 1,000 participants and 13 bands. Those living in the Carrick Hill area have objected to bands playing music as they walk past St Patrick's Church on Donegall Street.

The bands are due to march from Denmark Street, through the city centre and Twaddell Avenue, and onto Hopefield Street. However, a ruling by the Parades Commission means that as the bands pass the church, they must stick to a single drumbeat. The restriction placed on the parade is tighter than last year. Following the ruling, residents in Carrick Hill called off a planned protest.

SDLP North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness welcomed the news. He said: "Throughout this entire dispute the only thing that the residents of Carrick Hill and the parishioners of St. Patrick's have asked for is to be treated with respect and they have acted with dignity.

"The decision by the residents to cancel their planned protest is a significant, positive step and I hope will be respectfully reciprocated by the Loyal Orders this evening."

Pastor Prosecuted Over 'Islam' Comments

Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has confirmed that a pastor from north Belfast is to be prosecuted over comments he made last year regarding Islam.

Pastor James McConnell, the former pastor of Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in the city, described Islam as "satanic" and "heathen" during one of his sermons in May 2014.

The 78-year-old initially defended his remarks, but following a public outcry, he apologised for any distress or offence he had caused. Police later confirmed they had launched an investigation into a potential hate crime. It is understood McConnell, who has since retired, had refused to accept a lesser punishment of an informed warning, resulting in the case going to court.

A spokeswoman for the Public Prosecution Service is quoted as saying: "I can confirm that following consideration of a complaint in relation to an internet broadcast of a sermon in May 2014, a decision was taken to offer an individual an informed warning for an offence contrary to the Communications Act 2003.

"That offence was one of sending, or causing to be sent, by means of a public electronic communications network, a message or other matter that was grossly offensive. The offer of an informed warning was refused by the defendant and accordingly the matter is now proceeding by way of a summary prosecution in the Magistrates Court."

(JP/MH)