Other News In Brief

SDLP And Fianna Fáil To Announce Future Partnership

The SDLP and Ireland's Fianna Fáil are set to announce a deal for cooperation between the two parties on Thursday 24 January.

The news emerged from a meeting on Tuesday evening.

Party leaders Colum Eastwood and Micheál Martin will set out plans for the partnership in Belfast city centre tomorrow.

Talks of a merger have been widely reported since Mr Martin revealed his intentions to move the party into Northern Ireland in 2014, but the arrangement will instead be a shared policy platform.

Fianna Fáil spokesperson for foreign affairs and trade, Niall Collins, said: "The talks, as you know, have been going on for a period of time and we received a briefing on that last night, and the proposal on the table to form a partnership is fully endorsed by the parliamentary party.

"Tomorrow, our party leader travels to Belfast to make the formal announcement."

Teen Knocked Unconscious After Falling On Ice

A teenager has been taken to hospital after falling on ice this morning, Wednesday 23 January.

Emergency services, including the air ambulance, rushed to William Street in Lurgan shortly before 8.45am.

A 16-year-old boy had temporarily lost consciousness after slipping while walking on an icy surface.

He was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital.

Patisserie Valerie Collapse Puts Belfast Jobs At Risk

Sweet-treat chain Patisserie Valerie, which has three stores in Belfast, has collapsed into administration, putting a total of 2,800 jobs at risk.

The group has café's in Donegall Square, Castle Lane and Forestside Shopping Centre.

Around 60 staff are estimated to work across the different locations in the city.

The firm said that discussions with its lenders HSBC and Barclays were unsuccessful and left it with no option but to initiate the process off administration.



(JG/MH)