Other News In Brief

NI Water Urges Dog Owners To 'Take The Lead' When Visiting Beauty Spots

NI Water has appealed to dog owners to 'take the lead' when visiting any of its beauty spots.

The utility firm has reminded visitors to their sites that their policy across all NI Water sites is to keep dogs on leads at all times. This is to ensure the safety of both your pets and local wildlife.

Many sites owned by NI Water, such as areas of the Mourne Mountains and the Garron Plateau, are also used by local farmers to graze livestock.

Rebecca Allen, Catchment Officer explained: "Often the presence of a dog is enough to spook a sheep and cause it to harm itself in an attempt to get to safety. If a dog is found to be worrying sheep, its owners may face a fine of up to £1000 if found guilty of the offence.

"Dogs can also worry cattle and unknowingly carry bacteria into the area, which affects cattle health. We ask that all visitors to NI Water lands follow the Countryside Code for Northern Ireland and keep dogs on leads at all times and bag and bin all dog waste. Unfortunately, in the past week there has been a tragic incident of a sheep dying as a result of a dog attack on our land, and this is just sad and unacceptable.

"Our countryside areas also provide important habitat for a diverse range of wildlife including rare breeding birds. Keeping your dog on a lead keeps our wildlife safe and your dog safe and happy too."

NI Water thanks all our visitors who keep their dogs on leads when enjoying the countryside. Check with Dog Friendly NI for a list of dog parks suitable for off lead exercise.

Appeal For Information On Burglary In Newtownabbey

PSNI detectives have issued an appeal for information following a report of a burglary in Newtownabbey on Saturday 27th May.

Police received a report shortly before 10pm that a house had been broken into via a rear door in the Heather Park area. It was reported that a man entered and stole a number of items, including car keys before making off in a white Fiat 500 belonging to the home owner.

The car has since been located in the Dunloy Gardens area of Rathcoole.

The suspect was described as a man aged in his 30s, wearing a grey, white and navy jacket, navy trousers and wearing only one white shoe with a white sock on the other foot.

Detective Inspector Lenaghan said: "We would appeal to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the Newtownabbey area, or has any CCTV or dash-cam footage to call us on 101, quoting reference number 2188 of 27/05/23."

Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.

SF's Mickey Brady Renews Call For Stormont Restoration

Economic opportunities to create jobs must be seized and NI's political institutions restored, Sinn Féin MP Mickey Brady has said.

Speaking from the RISING global peace forum at Coventry Cathedral the Newry/Armagh MP said: "Over recent months, we have looked back and celebrated all that has been achieved over the last 25 years with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and transformative peace on this island.

"Our focus now is on the next 25 years as we look forward with hope, ambition, and opportunity.

"To build a better, brighter future for everyone who calls our island home.

"Together, we must keep working to make progress, and every one of us in political leadership has a role and responsibility to make politics work for all.

"To seize the opportunities available to us to attract investment, create jobs for our young people, and deliver the change people demand and rightfully deserve.

"It is unacceptable that one party continues to block the formation of an Executive and stall progress on the important work that needs to be done.

"We need an Executive formed now to protect our public services from savage and immoral Tory cuts that are punishing people and communities right now.

"The onus is now on the British and Irish Governments to get together and focus their efforts on the immediate restoration of the northern Executive and Assembly now."