Other News In Brief

Mencap Opens New £4.6m Development In Belfast

Mencap has opened a new £4.6 million development in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The centre will provide a comprehensive range of support services including a new children's nursery, specialist treatment and activity rooms, a hub for young people to engage in arts and cultural programmes, and family meeting facilities, enabling peer support and information points for guidance and advice.

First Minister Arlene Foster said: "The opening of this state of the art centre today reaffirms our commitment to addressing and removing the obstacles that people with disabilities face to ensure they have the same equality of opportunity and equality of treatment enjoyed by others in society.

"I am immensely proud of Northern Ireland and I want ensure that our young people and adults with a learning disability receive the support they need to reach their full potential and to live the life they want to lead."

Call For Explanation In Relation To Special Needs School Provision

An Alliance MLA is calling for an "urgent explanation" over why the provision for children in special needs schools is being reduced.

The move by the Education Authority will see nursery and pre-school children attending school for 2.5 hours a day as opposed to the current 4.5 hours a day.

East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle said: "Any move to reduce the provision for special needs children is a concerning one, particularly as it was only discovered via a letter to a parent. The needs of pupils needs to be at the heart of our education system.

"Access to early years educational support is extremely important to families and children living with special educational needs. Therefore I asked the Education Minister to detail the rationale for the Education Authority decision and how it was communicated to those affected."

Farmer Convicted Of Animal Welfare Charges

A farmer has been convicted of animal welfare at Omagh Magistrates' Court.

Nigel Conway, Drumlester Road, Sixmilecross, was convicted of five charges of failing to dispose of animal carcases, one charge of failing to notify the movement of bovine animals on to his holding, one charge of using eartags to identify an animal which had already been used to identify another animal, one charge of failing to comply with a movement notice, five charges of causing unnecessary suffering to sheep and a cow and three charges of failing to ensure the needs of animals were met to the extent required by good practice.

He had previously pleaded guilty and was fined £1,000 on one charge of failing to dispose of carcases and received a conditional discharge for two years on the remaining 15 charges. He was also disqualified from keeping all animals for six month. A deprivation order was granted and he has four weeks to depopulate his herd and flock. He also received a £15 offenders levy.

(CD)