Other News In Brief

Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

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

Donna Quigg claimed Job Seeker's Allowance totalling £7,855 while failing to declare employment. She was given a six-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

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

Public Urged To Give Their Views On A1 Road Improvements

The public are being urged to give their views over planned road improvement along the A1 between Hillsborough Roundabout and Loughbrickland.

A series of community consultation events will seek further views on the developed project design and scheme progression.

The meetings will take place on:

• Thursday 15 February from 11am to 8pm in Banbridge Old Town Hall

• Monday 19 February from 11am to 8pm in Dromore Town Hall

• Wednesday 21 February from 11am to 8pm in Hillsborough Court House

The purpose of the project is to consider safety concerns and propose further road improvements along the A1 between Hillsborough Roundabout and Loughbrickland.

Call For Council To Reverse Decision Over Irish Flag

Sinn Féin is to seek the reversal of a decision taken by Council officers to ban the Irish Tricolour flag from the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Strabane, the party's Councillor Karina Carlin has confirmed.

Cllr Carlin said the proposal would be formally put at a meeting of the Council on Monday, 05 February.

She said: "The national flag has always formed part of the celebrations in Strabane without any difficulty or controversy.

"We see no reason why that cannot continue and why the national flag cannot be carried as part of the official event to celebrate the national patron saint.

"Council officers made the decision that no flags should be included in the absence of a formal policy on flags and emblems which is not yet in place in this relatively new Council.

"However, as the history of this parade has shown, it is perfectly possible to run a genuinely inclusive and cross-community event where flags are carried in a respectful manner.

"Therefore, Sinn Féin's proposal will seek the inclusion of the national flag in the official parade while also redressing the need for a Council policy on this issue going forward."

(CD/LM)