Other News In Brief

Police Apprehend Drunk Driver With Child On Board

Police have hit out at a drunk driver who was apprehended on the roads with a child passenger in his vehicle.

Two separate individuals were caught on Sunday evening, 10 November, one of which was observed in the Stangmore area of Dungannon heading onto the M1. He had a child as a passenger.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "The other caught on Quarry Lane heading over the roundabout to Newell Road.

"Both had no control of their vehicles.

"Pure madness."

Potential SDC Job Cuts A Blow For Co Antrim Workers

Potential job losses at SDC Trailers will be a huge blow for the Toome area of South Antrim, Alliance MLA John Blair has said.

The firm, which makes lorry trailers and services major supermarkets, is cutting jobs across its plants but is yet to issue further guidance on the amount of roles at risk.

Around 650 people are employed by SDC in Northern Ireland.

South Antrim MLA John Blair said: "At this stage SDC Trailers has indicated that jobs will be lost at its plants, including Toome, but are unable to confirm numbers of staff who may be affected. This will cause great concern to all staff and I hope some clarity can be provided soon for the workers.

"Yet again, we see an important company highlight how the uncertainty around Brexit has caused their customers to reassess capital investments, including the purchase of trailers. This has the obvious follow on impact for companies such as SDC Trailers, who are an important employer in this rural area.

"It is clear there is no such thing as a good Brexit. The business community needs certainty to effectively plan for the future and secure jobs and this is best achieved by us staying in the EU."

Local Firm Supports Belfast Homeless Charity

Belfast-based homeless charity The Welcome Organisation has been supported with a new investment.

Local construction firm GRAHAM has donated a defibrillator to the business to coincide with 'Restart a Heart Day'.

The contractor's Project Manager, Gareth Dale, and Site Manager, Stephen Sharpe, presented the device to Jo Daykin-Goodall, Director of Services at The Welcome Organisation, last month.

The defibrillator, which gives a high energy shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest, will be transported in a specialist Street Outreach Vehicle where it can be deployed to provide critical interventions to homeless people and rough sleepers.

Speaking about the investment, GRAHAM Regional Community Benefits Adviser, Attracta Mathews, explained: "GRAHAM is undertaking a number of high-profile projects within Belfast, and as our operatives go about their work and travel to and from site they are interfacing with rough sleepers and seeing first-hand the very real issues associated with homelessness. There was a determination to make a difference, and that is why we reached out to The Welcome Organisation. It is doing amazing work in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our society. We are proud to have made the donation of the defibrillator which we hope will make a real difference."

Jo Daykin-Goodall, Director of Services at The Welcome Organisation, added: "We would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone at GRAHAM for the amazing donation of a defibrillator. The defibrillator will have a real and positive impact on our work and, in turn, on the lives of the people we help. It will be kept in our Street Outreach Vehicle and will provide potentially life-saving interventions to people who are homeless.

"We couldn't deliver the level of support we do for people affected by homelessness in Belfast if it wasn't for the support of people like Gareth Dale, Stephen Sharpe and everyone at GRAHAM."

The Welcome Organisation estimates that there has been a 35% increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Belfast during 2018/2019 compared to 2017/2018.