Other News In Brief

Man Arrested After Shooting Incident In Crumlin

Police in Crumlin have arrested a 58-year-old man in connection with a shooting incident that occurred on Thursday, November 28th.

The incident took place at a residential property in the Randox Road area around 5:30 PM. A man, who was at the property on a business matter, alleged that a shot was fired at him following a disagreement. Fortunately, he was unharmed but left shaken by the ordeal.

Detectives are continuing their investigation and are appealing to anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 1253 of 28/11/24.

A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/ 

Record Health Waiting Lists Result Of 'Political Dysfunction' – Alliance

Record health waiting lists is the results of "political dysfunction" in Northern Ireland, Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA has said.

McAllister made the comments following the quarterly diagnostic waiting list statistics, published by the Department of Health, show the real-world impact of the cycle of collapse from Sinn Fein and the DUP at Stormont.

The statistics showed that 506,612 people in Northern Ireland were waiting to be seen by a specialist consultant for diagnosis as of September, the highest number on record.

The North Belfast MLA said: "This is a record that no one wanted to see, but unfortunately the lack of progress in health reform alongside an abundance of political dysfunction has led us to this point.

"We should be eight years into a ten-year health transformation programme as set out in the 'Systems, Not Structures' report from Professor Bengoa, which each of the main five parties signed up to in 2016.

"Instead, the DUP and Sinn Féin deprived us of government for five of those eight years. "We also need to ensure that decisions around transformation are based on evidence and that parties are able to show the leadership required, something that is too often lacking when it comes to decisions around health.

"Alliance will never be found wanting when it comes to health reform. I challenge all other parties to join us so that Northern Ireland does not have more record-breaking health waiting statistics like we have seen today."

NHS Focus Must Be To Protect Life – DUP

The focus of our National Health Service must be to protect life, Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has said ahead of the debate in Parliament on assisted dying on Friday.

The DUP MP said: "Many of those who have indicated support for this bill do so because they believe it is a compassionate alternative to the great suffering faced by many people towards the end of their life. A desire to reduce suffering must motivate everyone, but without properly addressing issues in palliative care it is wrong to press people towards ending their lives.

"Our Health Service must be focused on protecting life, and on protecting the vulnerable. It is a reality that in every case where assisted suicide has been introduced elsewhere, its scope has widened beyond the often, narrow focus of its initial introduction. It will be those who are most marginalised and who have the fewest resources who are likely to feel most pressure to remove the 'burden' they may feel they have become.

"The safeguards included within the bill, whilst bureaucratic and placing a significant burden on the legal system, lack detail on how they will make a real difference to prevent the kind of coercion or pressure which will inevitably form part of the system.

""It is tempting to portray Friday's vote as somehow bringing a line under this issue. If MPs decide to back the legislation there can be no doubt however that it will actually be the start of a very long process over years and even decades that will see many more people ending their life rather than receiving the care they deserve."