Other NI News In Brief

Morrison Conviction Overturned

The one-time voice of Sinn Féin, its former Director of Publicity, Danny Morrison, has had his conviction in relation to the unlawful imprisonment of an IRA informer quashed. Mr Morrison and a number of others were sentenced to eight years' imprisonment in 1991 in relation to the kidnap of Sandy Lynch. Mr Lynch was alleged to have been taken to a house in west Belfast for interrogation by the IRA, but Mr Morrison and the others claimed they had gone to the house to arrange a Sinn Féin press conference. They said that Mr Lynch was due to speak at the event. All their cases were successfully referred back to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Dunmurry Stabbing Probed

A 28-year-old man is in a serious condition in hospital after being assaulted by a group of men and women in Dunmurry. He received a stab wound to his back after he was attacked by the gang in Mount Eagles Mews in the Lagmore area at about 1am on Friday. After the assault the man was struck by a dark coloured Vauxhall Vectra car which then drove off. A car matching that description was found burnt out in the Clonard Court area of west Belfast some time later. Police are investigating the incident.

Crime Doesn't Pay

The boss of NI's Organised Crime Task Force has revealed that almost £2m of criminal assets was recovered in the first three months of this year. Paul Goggins, who is the NIO Security Minister and who also chairs the Task Force said that enforcement agencies were on course to meet or exceed targets for recovered assets: "I have set challenging and realistic targets of what can be recovered over the next two years," he said. "The results from the first quarter are encouraging and show that we are on course to hit those targets." Mr Goggins said he was confident that the "expertise and determination of our law enforcement agencies will result in criminal gangs being disrupted and their cash and assets recovered and taken from them".

Education Supported

Northern Ireland Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has approved Development Proposals to establish Learning Support Centres for children at Primate Dixon Primary School, Coalisland and Christian Brothers' Primary School, Armagh. The proposals for primary years 5-7 (Key Stage 2), build on existing provision in both of these schools for children at primary year 1-4 (Key Stage 1) with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The new provision will provide a continuity of specialist support for these and other children with special educational needs and enables parents to choose the type of specialist provision that best meets the needs of their child.

Sanctuary Appeal For Asylum Seekers

The NI Executive Junior Minister Gerry Kelly has welcomed the opportunity for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to work with the Law Centre and other local organisations to ensure that those seeking sanctuary here are treated with respect and compassion. Mr Kelly made the comments during a meeting with Law Centre Director, Les Allamby, to discuss the recent Independent Asylum Commission's Report into the Asylum system here. Mr Kelly said: "While immigration is an excepted matter, we have a role in ensuring that all who travel here seeking sanctuary through the asylum system are treated with respect, fairness and dignity."

(BMcC)