Other NI News In Brief

Fly-past To Honour Troops

Plans are being made for a military fly-past at next month's armed forces' Belfast homecoming parade. As controversy continues over a planned counter-march organsied by Sinn Fein it has emerged that the RAF and Army Air Corps' aircraft are scheduled to fly over the city centre parade route. Depending on the weather and operational requirements, it is expected that two RAF Harrier GR7 fighter-bomber aircraft, two Army Air Corps' Gazelle helicopters and an RAF Puma transport helicopter will take part in the flypast. Meanwhile, DUP Leader and First Minister Peter Robinson has warned the NI Parades Commission of the "very distinct dangers" if they were to allow the protest as they have requested. "By bringing that number of people (500) into the city centre in a counter-parade and protest, it is very clear that there is a very great possibility of there being a violent outcome," he said last night.

School Alerts By Kids: SF

While dissident republicans have previously been blamed for a spate of security alerts at a west Belfast school, a Sinn Fein MLA has now claimed that the five hoax security alerts in a fortnight at St Colm's High in Twinbrook were caused by local young people. Sinn Fein MLA for the area, Jennifer McCann, said that local knowledge indicated they were being carried out by young people. The hoax alerts began after a visit to the school by the Royal Navy last month. Three officers took part in a team building and leadership event at the school.

Road Toll Mounts

A 35-year-old man has become the latest victim of NI's roads yesterday after he died in a collision in Co Antrim. The man was last night named as Stephen Moorcroft. He was originally from Coleraine but was living in Balnamore village near Ballymoney. He died following an accident involving two cars which occurred on the Bann Road between Ballymoney and Aghadowey shortly after 7am. A second man was also injured in the crash. Meanwhile, the Frosses Road was closed between Ballymena and Ballymoney for several hours yesterday following a road accident. A woman was taken to hospital for treatment but her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Finaghy Road North Opens

The NI Roads Minister Conor Murphy has announced the full re-opening of a Belfast road this weekend which was closed in late June to allow for the strengthening of a railway bridge. Finaghy Road North in south Belfast will fully re-open to two-way traffic at 8am on Saturday with an improved footway over the railway bridge also available to pedestrians. The Minister said: "The re-opening of this road should alleviate some of the current difficulties for pedestrians and motorists in the Finaghy area. I would like to thank local residents and businesses for their patience throughout this work to improve safety provision at this bridge," noting that work to complete the scheme will continue into November although this should have a minimal effect on local traffic movements.

(BMcC)