06/07/2009
Other NI News In Brief
Cliff Rescue Drama
A party of women were dramatically rescued from a cliffside in Co Antrim at the weekend. The group became trapped on a boulder face at the bottom of 120m high Fairhead, Ballycastle, during a Duke of Edinburgh expedition. A police helicopter lifted two to safety while the other four were rescued by the Irish Coastguard helicopter. There were no injuries.
Maghaberry Gets New Chief
The Northern Ireland Prison Service has announced that Steve Rodford will be the new Governor of Maghaberry Prison. Mr Rodford, who is the current Governor of Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire will take up post on 20th July. Governor Alan Craig, who was based at Prison Service headquarters in Belfast, took up his post on 1 July as the new Deputy Governor of Maghaberry Prison.
Flaming June
As the mixed summer weather continues today with both sunshine and some isolated heavy rainfall, it has been revealed that June was sunnier, warmer and drier than average. The Armagh Observatory announced that the amount of rainfall accumulated to 56.6 mm (2.23 inches), about 10% below average. The number of hours of sunshine was 223.3 - over one-third more the June average. And the mean monthly temperature was 14.5C or 58F, almost one degree C above the average for June. The maximum temperature recorded was 26.7C on June 2. There were five nights with grass frost.
SF Backs PSNI On Car Crime
A Sinn Féin MLA for West Belfast, Jennifer McCann has said she hopes that a recent police operation against car crime in west Belfast is the "beginning of a concerted focus by the PSNI against this particular crime". "The move by the PSNI against car crime is to be welcomed. For too long now so called joyriders, who became known as death drivers due to their activities, have been able to steal family cars with near impunity and drive at reckless high speed though our streets and as a result many families have been bereaved. Sinn Féin have been to the fore of putting this critical issue to the PSNI at local DPP meetings and the Policing Board and until it is satisfactorily addressed it will continue to be placed high on any agenda in relation to the policing of West Belfast."
Fraudster Fined
A man was convicted at Larne Magistrates' Court last week for claiming benefits he was not entitled to. Kevin McAllister (46) of Munie Road, Glenarm claimed Jobseekers Allowance totalling £6,441 while failing to declare he had capital. He was given a £100 fine and ordered to pay £61 court costs. This brings to 239 the total number of successful prosecutions this year.
SF Welcomes 'Equality' In Planning
An Assemblyman has lauded the Department of Environment's pledge to promote equality in the planning reform agenda. Sinn Féin's Cathal Boylan said he welcomed the release of the draft consultation paper on Planning Reform, accompanied by a full draft Equality Impact Assessment. The MLA said: "This is a welcome turnaround by the DOE, after many months of detailed negotiations undertaken by Sinn Féin representatives and personally involving the joint First Minister, Martin McGuinness."
(BMcC/JM)
A party of women were dramatically rescued from a cliffside in Co Antrim at the weekend. The group became trapped on a boulder face at the bottom of 120m high Fairhead, Ballycastle, during a Duke of Edinburgh expedition. A police helicopter lifted two to safety while the other four were rescued by the Irish Coastguard helicopter. There were no injuries.
Maghaberry Gets New Chief
The Northern Ireland Prison Service has announced that Steve Rodford will be the new Governor of Maghaberry Prison. Mr Rodford, who is the current Governor of Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire will take up post on 20th July. Governor Alan Craig, who was based at Prison Service headquarters in Belfast, took up his post on 1 July as the new Deputy Governor of Maghaberry Prison.
Flaming June
As the mixed summer weather continues today with both sunshine and some isolated heavy rainfall, it has been revealed that June was sunnier, warmer and drier than average. The Armagh Observatory announced that the amount of rainfall accumulated to 56.6 mm (2.23 inches), about 10% below average. The number of hours of sunshine was 223.3 - over one-third more the June average. And the mean monthly temperature was 14.5C or 58F, almost one degree C above the average for June. The maximum temperature recorded was 26.7C on June 2. There were five nights with grass frost.
SF Backs PSNI On Car Crime
A Sinn Féin MLA for West Belfast, Jennifer McCann has said she hopes that a recent police operation against car crime in west Belfast is the "beginning of a concerted focus by the PSNI against this particular crime". "The move by the PSNI against car crime is to be welcomed. For too long now so called joyriders, who became known as death drivers due to their activities, have been able to steal family cars with near impunity and drive at reckless high speed though our streets and as a result many families have been bereaved. Sinn Féin have been to the fore of putting this critical issue to the PSNI at local DPP meetings and the Policing Board and until it is satisfactorily addressed it will continue to be placed high on any agenda in relation to the policing of West Belfast."
Fraudster Fined
A man was convicted at Larne Magistrates' Court last week for claiming benefits he was not entitled to. Kevin McAllister (46) of Munie Road, Glenarm claimed Jobseekers Allowance totalling £6,441 while failing to declare he had capital. He was given a £100 fine and ordered to pay £61 court costs. This brings to 239 the total number of successful prosecutions this year.
SF Welcomes 'Equality' In Planning
An Assemblyman has lauded the Department of Environment's pledge to promote equality in the planning reform agenda. Sinn Féin's Cathal Boylan said he welcomed the release of the draft consultation paper on Planning Reform, accompanied by a full draft Equality Impact Assessment. The MLA said: "This is a welcome turnaround by the DOE, after many months of detailed negotiations undertaken by Sinn Féin representatives and personally involving the joint First Minister, Martin McGuinness."
(BMcC/JM)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
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14 September 2016
Staff At Maghaberry Prison Watched As Prisoner Self-Harmed
Staff at Maghaberry Prison in Lisburn have been criticised after they failed to intervene while a prisoner blinded himself, according to a Prison Ombudsman report. Sean Lynch, 23, was being detained at the prison in June 2014 and inflicted "extreme and shocking" injuries through self-harm over a three day period.
Staff At Maghaberry Prison Watched As Prisoner Self-Harmed
Staff at Maghaberry Prison in Lisburn have been criticised after they failed to intervene while a prisoner blinded himself, according to a Prison Ombudsman report. Sean Lynch, 23, was being detained at the prison in June 2014 and inflicted "extreme and shocking" injuries through self-harm over a three day period.
19 May 2010
Car Crime Unit Stays On Track
There's been a welcome for news that a contentious decision to shut down a dedicated car crime police unit in west Belfast has been overturned. The temporary reprieve follows protests from the victims' group, Families Bereaved through Car Crime who fear more people could be killed by so-called 'joyriders'.
Car Crime Unit Stays On Track
There's been a welcome for news that a contentious decision to shut down a dedicated car crime police unit in west Belfast has been overturned. The temporary reprieve follows protests from the victims' group, Families Bereaved through Car Crime who fear more people could be killed by so-called 'joyriders'.
23 February 2009
Prison Suicide Report Gets Assembly Discussion
Sinn Féin MLA's Raymond McCartney and Martina Anderson will present a motion at the Stormont Assembly today calling for the full implementations of the recommendations of the report made by the Prison Ombudsman into the death of prisoner Colin Bell in Maghaberry Prison.
Prison Suicide Report Gets Assembly Discussion
Sinn Féin MLA's Raymond McCartney and Martina Anderson will present a motion at the Stormont Assembly today calling for the full implementations of the recommendations of the report made by the Prison Ombudsman into the death of prisoner Colin Bell in Maghaberry Prison.
22 June 2007
Dublin prison frees wrong inmate
An inquiry is underway after an armed robber was mistakenly set free from a prison in Dublin. Mark Kenny, 35, an inmate at Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison serving six years for armed robbery was freed three years before he was due to be released. He had been mistaken for another prisoner of the same name.
Dublin prison frees wrong inmate
An inquiry is underway after an armed robber was mistakenly set free from a prison in Dublin. Mark Kenny, 35, an inmate at Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison serving six years for armed robbery was freed three years before he was due to be released. He had been mistaken for another prisoner of the same name.
31 August 2021
53-Year-Old Dies In Custody At Maghaberry Prison
A 53-year-old has reportedly died in custody at Maghaberry Prison, the Northern Ireland Prison Service has announced. The Department of Justice has reported that the prisoner died on Saturday 28 August, that his next of kin have been informed and that the death was not covid related.
53-Year-Old Dies In Custody At Maghaberry Prison
A 53-year-old has reportedly died in custody at Maghaberry Prison, the Northern Ireland Prison Service has announced. The Department of Justice has reported that the prisoner died on Saturday 28 August, that his next of kin have been informed and that the death was not covid related.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.