Other News In Brief

Green Party NI Urge Stalking Victims To Reach Out For Help

The Green Party NI has urged victims of stalking to reach out for help following the passing of the new Protection from Stalking Bill in the Assembly today.

The Green Party NI member of the Justice Committee, Rachel Woods MLA, said: "I am glad that the Protection from Stalking Bill will soon become law. It really is longoverdue, and it cannot come into force quickly enough.

"For any victim, stalking is insidious. It can take its toll emotionally and physically. It can also be a precursor to more serious crimes and acts of violence. That is why these new legal protections are so important and will save lives, as well as introducing new powers for the PSNI through Stalking Prevention Orders.

"Amendments made to the Bill now mean that we will have more robust training, data collection, reporting and guidance in relation to the new criminal offences. We need to ensure that those at the front line of our criminal justice system are fully trained, especially police officers who will be the first port of call when responding to reports of these crimes.

"Stalking can be a life-or-death situation, if you need help or advice, please reach out for support."

Sammy Wilson Accused Of 'Spreading Misinformation' About Face Coverings

DUP MP Sammy Wilson has been accused of "spreading misinformation" about face coverings.

Responding to claims by Mr Wilson that the wearing of face coverings impacts the ability of children to intake oxygen, SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath, said: "It's disgraceful that an MP is spreading false information about the wearing of face coverings. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic Sammy Wilson and some of his DUP colleagues have repeatedly undermined the public health response to this crisis, while the public pulled together to get through this extremely difficult period, they seemed determined to spread fake news.

"Face coverings have been an important tool in our response to Covid-19, they have helped mitigate against the spread of the virus and will doubtless have stopped people from catching the virus, getting seriously ill and passing away. There is absolutely no evidence to back up Mr Wilson's staggering claims and we should really expect better from our public representatives.

"While the requirement to wear face coverings in many settings has now been lifted, Covid-19 is still spreading in our communities and coverings still provide significant protection. I would also ask the public to be mindful of the vulnerable people in our community who are more susceptible to the effects of Covid-19 and may continue to wear a covering for their own protection.

"The DUP have serious questions to answer about the conduct of a number of their representatives during this pandemic. Jeffrey Donaldson needs to show some leadership and stop his colleagues acting in this harmful way. Words have consequences and MPs have influence, people listening to Sammy Wilson's comments may wrongly decide face coverings are ineffective and expose themselves and those around them to greater risk as a result."

Lord Mayor Launches Forth Meadow Cultural Events

Belfast Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl has helped launch a cultural events programme for Forth Meadow Community Greenway starting with the Luminate festival on Saturday 5th March.

Luminate will be the first of four events along with a programme of smaller events designed by ArtsEkta over the coming months to bring communities together to enjoy the new space. Forth Meadow Community Greenway connects existing open spaces in north and west Belfast along a 12km route from Clarendon Playing Fields to the new Transport Hub in the city centre.

Working in partnership with groups across north and west Belfast, more than 100 participants have been creating large scale models of buildings and wildlife from their local areas and around the world. Luminate will celebrate the natural and built heritage surrounding the Forth Meadow Community Greenway, showcased through a magical floating lantern installation on the Springfield Dam with music, dance, fire performers, workshops, food and fun for all the family. The wider programme also includes activities such as nature walks, cycling events and foraging to heritage tours, wellness events and family fun days.

The Lord Mayor said: "I'm delighted to announce the first in a series of cultural animation events to promote the Forth Meadow Community Greenway. Luminate will be lighting up our sky on 5th March and providing the start of more opportunities for local people and communities to come together and enjoy this amazing new space. There are further exciting events planned between March and September to celebrate this wonderful new outdoor space offering great physical and mental health benefits too."

The Greenway is one of a number of projects being delivered through Belfast City Council's £14.5m, PEACE IV Local Authority Action Plan. This Action Plan has been funded through the European Union's PEACE IV Programme, which is managed by The Special EU Programmes Body. Match-funding has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.