Other News In Brief

Two Hospitalised After Four Vehicle Crash In L'Derry

Two people have been taken to hospital following a four vehicle crash on the Buncrana Road in L'Derry.

Police and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) attended the scene on the morning of Friday 18 January .

A spokesperson for the NIAS said they responded to the call shortly before 12pm and dispatched two A&E crews, one rapid response vehicle and one paramedic officer.

After initial assessment and treatment at the scene, two people were transferred to Altnagelvin Hospital for further treatment.

The road was closed between the Benview Estate and Whitehouse Roundabout for some time but has since reopened.

Sinn Fein Welcome Additional £3m Health Money For Winter Pressures

Sinn Fein has spoken out in support of the additional £3 million allocated to the health service by the Department of Health.

The money is targeted at reducing winter pressures on emergency departments in Northern Ireland, as well as community care packages for the elderly.

The party's Health Spokesperson, Pat Sheehan MLA said: "I, along with Sinn Fein colleagues, have been visiting Health Trusts across the north over the winter to discuss the challenges facing services.

"Health and social care staff have been working extremely hard over the winter to implement plans to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the community over the winter period.

"The announcement of an additional £3m to address winter pressures will no doubt be welcome particularly in boosting recruitment in the domiciliary care sector."

The west Belfast MLA continued: "It is clear in my meetings with Trust staff, particularly those in A&E departments, that the serious pressures facing services are now year-round rather than just winter pressures.

"Challenges such as delayed discharges are often a result of a lack of capacity in the domiciliary care sector.

"Capacity in domiciliary care sector is a serious and ongoing problem felt across the north and initiatives to address it need to be pursued throughout the year."

Ian Paisley Billed Charity £6K For New York Trip

DUP MP Ian Paisley billed a charity over £6,000 to fly to a conference in New York, it has emerged.

The revelation is the latest in a series of accusations about the North Antrim MP's luxury breaks abroad.

He is understood to have organised his own flight and accommodation for the peace conference in New York, but later billed Cooperation Ireland for the cost.

It comes just weeks since his historic parliamentary suspension ended, and during allegations he took a complimentary break to the Maldives in exchange for advocating on behalf of the country.

The North Antrim MP was suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days for 'serious misconduct' by failing to declare two 2013 holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government alongside 'paid advocacy' for the country.

But a petition to force a by-election for his seat fell just short of votes needed, with him saying "a smaller man than me would have crumbled" on his return to politics.



(JG/CM)