Other News In Brief

Police Investigate Sudden Death In L'Derry

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a man in L'Derry.

It happened in the Balliniskea area, and a post-mortem will be carried to establish the cause of death.

There are no further details at this stage.

New Belfast Restaurant Creates 20 Jobs

A new restaurant at Custom House Square has brought 20 new jobs to Belfast city centre.

Cafe on the Square has opened on the ground floor of the Custom House Square Residence Development, making it the first tenant to occupy the unit since it was completed in 2009.

The new eatery is set in the heart of Belfast's cultural and entertainment sphere, with Custom House Square being the host of many live music events throughout the year.

Claire's Accessories Discussing Closures

The retail chain Claire's, which has 14 outlets across Northern Ireland, is considering closing a percentage of its UK stores.

The company is believed to be talking to a restructuring firm to explore a number of options, one of which is a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), a controversial insolvency procedure used to shed under-performing sites.

However, a spokeswoman said they have "no plans for either a CVA or major store closures…in the foreseeable future" and the any store closures would be "our normal course of business".

Hundreds of jobs may be at risk if the company presses ahead with a CVA.

Claire's is the latest of a number of high street firms to show signs of distress.

(JG)