Teen Rape Probed

Detectives hunting a rape suspect have appealed for anyone with information to contact them as a probe was mounted today after a teenage girl was attacked in Belfast. The 16-year-old assaulted by a man in the Springfield Road area in the west of the city (pictured) last night. Police said she was subjected to a sexual assault in an alleyway off Springfield Drive around 9.00pm.

Robbers Target Priest's House - Again

A priest has been robbed in what has been revealed to be the third such incident in just two and a half years. The victim was targeted by robbers who entered the parochial house on Moy Road in Portadown at around 5.20pm on Monday. They threatened the priest and told him to get money from his office. The pair were armed with knives and made off with a substantial sum of cash after locking the priest in an upstairs room. He managed to free himself a short time later and raise the alarm.

Shoesmith Loses Appeal

The former head of Children's Services at the centre of the 'Baby P' case has lost an appeal against her dismissal. Sharon Shoesmith - who comes originally from Newtownabbey, Co Antrim - was sacked from Haringey Council last month after a damning initial report into her department's role in Baby P's death. The 17-month-old, who was on the council's 'at-risk' register, died in 2007 after a series of major injuries. The north London council confirmed the appeal had been rejected by a panel of councillors.

Adams Seeks Gaza Debate

Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams yesterday pressed the NI Assembly Speaker over having an emergency debate on the Gaza crisis. The Stormont Speaker had ruled against an emergency debate on the grounds it was not a local issue. However, after Sinn Fein organised a protest on the steps of Stormont on Monday demanding a ceasefire and dialogue in Gaza, Mr Adam's reiterated his debate demand. The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson yesterday criticised a rally in Belfast city centre on over the Gaza issue. The Junior Minister accused the organisers, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, of showing a 'lack of balance'.

Health Bill Passed

The Assembly has given its final approval to important health and social care reforms introduced by NI Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey. The Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill outlines a new streamlined structure for health and social care, including the establishment of innovative organisations, such as the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being, to drive forward the public health agenda and tackle health inequalities. Welcoming the completion of the Assembly process, the Minister said: "This is an extensive piece of legislation and clearly demonstrates that health is leading the way on reform and modernisation in the public sector." The legislation will now go for Royal Assent and means that the establishment of the new organisations remain on schedule for establishment on 1 April 2009.

Armagh Boosted

Draft proposals to regenerate the city of Armagh have been opened to the public. The city's residents have been invited to a master plan session, later this month, which will see the future of the area shaped. Northern Ireland Regeneration Minister, Margaret Ritchie, said: "A key priority for me is setting out a shared vision for urban regeneration and economic development across Northern Ireland. I believe the draft masterplan provides us with an ambitious but realistic vision of how the city can make the best use of its assets and secure its ongoing success and prosperity. This is a major boost for the people of Armagh."

Recycle Cycle Must Continue, Says Wilson

Northern Ireland should continue recycling household waste despite recent concerns about the state of international markets, NI Environment Minister Sammy Wilson said this week. Following the sudden and dramatic fall on the global market in the demand for and value of recyclable materials as a result of the economic downturn, the Minister moved to reassure the public the domestic waste they recycle was still being sent for recycling and not being landfilled or stockpiled. Mr Wilson said: "There has been a lot of national press attention recently about the state of the global market and the impact that is having on the storage of domestic waste. It would be understandable if people in Northern Ireland are alarmed by these reports. However no member of the public should worry about the implications for the waste they recycle. The materials householders are being asked to identify, separate and place in their recycling bins and boxes, is still being sent for recycling. There is no evidence to suggest it is being stockpiled or sent to landfill," he insisted.

(BMcC/JM)