Quinn Murder Probe: Man Held

Gardaí have made an arrest as part of the on-going investigation into the murder of Paul Quinn in late October last year. Mr Quinn was found murdered at Castleblayney, Co Monaghan and yesterday evening Gardai made the arrest of a man in Co Monaghan. The man in his 30's is currently detained at Monagahan Garda Station under Section 30 Offences Against The State Act.

Missing Man Thought To Be Lost In Limerick

PSNI officers in Londonderry are growing increasingly concerned for a missing man thought to be somewhere in Limerick. Thomas Henry, 45, of Oakdale House, in Derry City, has been reported missing.
 He is described as 5'5' tall, fair complexion, of slim build, with brown short shaven hair, which is going grey at the side. He has tattoos on both arms and was last seen on October 25th. Recent enquiries have lead Gardaí to believe Mr Henry may be in the Limerick area. Gardaí are asking Mr Henry or anyone who knows of his whereabouts to contact the PSNI on 04890 650222.

Cannabis Smuggler Jailed

An unemployed carpenter from Dublin has been jailed for attempting to smuggle over two kilos of cannabis worth over €20,000 into the North in his luggage. Christopher Noel Byrne, 24, was arrested by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers as he arrived at Belfast International Airport from Amsterdam in December last year. Byrne was jailed for six months.

Ulster Beef Is Best: LMC

Consumers in Northern Ireland are becoming increasingly interested in the origin of their food. A recent survey commissioned by the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) has found that when it comes to eating out over 60% of Northern Ireland consumers want to know where the beef they eat has come from. In controlled taste tests 87% of those surveyed stated that local steaks either met or exceeded their expectations and when the country of origin was known the Northern Ireland steaks performed even better. If 'Country of Origin Labelling' or 'COOL', as it is often called were implemented, it would mean that foodservice outlets such as restaurants and hotels would have to display on menus where the beef they serve comes from. Consumers would then be able to choose the country of preference, which according to the survey is Northern Ireland, said the LMC.

Chicken Farmer Fined

A Co Fermanagh farmer has been fined £6,000 for unauthorised operation of his poultry farm. Barrie Hicks, 61, of Teemore, Co Fermanagh, pleaded guilty at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court last week to charges made by the Industrial Pollution and Radiochemical Inspectorate of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), formerly the Environment and Heritage Service, which became aware of the farm in 2004 when a planned expansion was about to be built. Poultry farms with more than 40,000 birds are required to obtain a permit which lists the conditions and limitations under which the plant has to be operated. The defendant applied for a permit, but the application showed that emissions of ammonia from the farm would damage a nearby Special Area of Conservation - Moninea Bog - and the application was refused. Despite this, the defendant went ahead with building and operating the expanded farm.

Money From America

Northern Ireland, and a number of border counties, are set to benefit from a £3.8m (€4.7m) funding boost from the International Fund for Ireland, it has been announced. The money will be targeted at supporting a range of projects to promote integration and reconciliation, including regeneration scheme and community-focused construction projects.

(BMcC)