Other News In Brief

Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A woman has been convicted for claiming benefits she was not entitled to at Lisburn Magistrates Court.

Louise Heasley claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £6,399 while failing to declare she was living with her partner. She was given a 12 month conditional discharge.

She is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

Construction Work To Start On Resurfacing Project In Bangor

Construction work on a £100,000 road resurfacing project in Bangor, Co Down, is to begin on Monday, 27 March.

Preparatory work has already commenced on the Ward Avenue scheme which will improve the strength and surface quality of the carriageway on the link road between Donaghadee Road and Seacliff Road.

It is expected to be substantially completed by the end of March 2017.

Diversions will be put in place during the works.

Green Party Calls For Referendum On Final Brexit Deal

Steven Agnew has repeated the Green Party's call for a referendum on the final Brexit deal.

He made the call after Downing Street confirmed that Article 50 will be triggered next Wednesday.

The North Down MLA said: "The people should have a final say on the terms of the final Brexit deal.

"Democracy did not end the day after the EU referendum. We have no sense of what Brexit actually means, particularly in the Northern Ireland context.

"I believe that we need to be able to get the best Brexit deal possible and of course a firm resolution on the hard border-soft border issue.

"Crucially, we should have the ability to reject the deal if it doesn’t serve our interests.

"Indeed, that is why I am involved in a legal action to ascertain whether Article 50 can be revoked; the so-called 'Dublin case'.

"Moreover, the Green Party has already submitted an Assembly motion on the same issue."

(CD)