Other News In Brief

Ballymena Electrical Firm Closes- 57 Jobs Lost

An electrical firm in Ballymena has ceased trading, resulting in the loss of 57 jobs.

JBE Mechanical Electrical has been operating since 1983, working on projects in the education, healthcare and retail sectors across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The news follows the company's announcement last week that it had entered administration amid a challenging period of tough market conditions and the loss of several contracts.

Administrator Gerard Gildernew said on Friday 11 January: "Unfortunately, following our review of live contracts and the company order book, I have concluded that it is not feasible to continue trading the business in administration.

"Regrettably, all 57 staff have this morning been notified that their roles are redundant.  I wish to record our thanks to those staff who have assisted us in the past week as we continue to work to maximise realisations to creditors."

SDLP Condemns Dumping Of Dead Calves In Lisburn

An SDLP councillor has hit out at those responsible for dumping six calves on private land in the Stoneyford area of Lisburn.

The dead animals are believed to have been discarded in plastic bags in the last 24 hours, in an act described as "disturbing" by local councillor Máiría Cahill.

"This is not the first time this has happened, except on the previous occasion the animals were not bagged," the Lisburn and Castlereagh councillor said.

"This act shows a blatant disregard for those who live in the area. I have liaised with DAERA today and requested that during the forthcoming annual TB testing that stock numbers are checked in an effort to find those responsible.

"My colleague Pat Catney MLA has raised the issue with the PSNI, and I would like to thank Lisburn Council Depot for their help in this matter. We have arranged on this occasion for the dead animals to be collected and rendered. The cost for a cattle owner to dispose of a calf in the correct manner is nominal, so this act really is inexcusable."

IFA Approve Sport And Leisure's Name Change To Belfast Celtic

The request of a west Belfast football club to rebrand as Belfast Celtic has been formally granted by the Irish Football Association.

The new name will take affect for the start of the 2019/20 season, after the Glen Road Heights outfit lodged the request last summer.

When first floating the idea in July 2018, the club said it had taken the decision, which was aimed at improving the footballing prospects of young people in the area, with "considerable deliberation".

An IFA spokesman confirmed it approved the rebranding at a December meeting.



(JG/CM)