IRA 'Peace' Supporter Dies

A strong advocate of republican support for the current 'peace process', and a former leading member of the IRA, has died. Brian Keenan, who was originally from Swatragh but who lived in west Belfast, had been suffering from cancer for some time. Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said his strong endorsement of the party's strategy was crucial in securing IRA support for the peace process. In the past, Mr Keenan was jailed for 18 years in 1980 for conspiring to cause explosions in Britain in the 1970s.

Come On Over, George!

Following an invitation from the First and Deputy First Ministers Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness, on a visit to the White House last December, US President George W Bush is to visit Northern Ireland next month. The visit follows this month's US investment in Belfast.

Mum Guilty Of Daughter's Sex Assault

A mother-of-three, aged 28, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting her own two-year-old daughter. The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her child, took the child to her GP in October 2006 after finding blood in her nappy. He referred her to the Royal Victoria Hospital where medics decided she had been sexually assaulted.

Eggs Destroyed As Flight Path Cleared

Wild bird eggs are being destroyed at Victoria Park in east Belfast by he Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) over fears that the hatchlings could affect flights at George Best Belfast City Airport. The Canadian and greylag geese eggs nesting in the park adjacent to the runway of the airport, are being pricked then dipped in oil to kill the developing chicks. John Milburne, of the EHS, told the news website that, while they did not relish it, it had to be done for air safety reasons as the geese could pose a real risk to aircraft. "If we had birds being ingested into jet engines, particularly birds the size of a swan or a goose, then you would have a potential catastrophe on your hands. We've got to deter the birds from actually being there, that's the problem, or increasing in numbers, and this seems to be the only known method of doing that." He said destroying the eggs was the most humane way of reducing the birds' numbers.

(BMcC)