Other NI News In Brief

NI Cancer Victim Dies From Swine Flu

The tragic woman who became the first person in Northern Ireland to die of swine flu on Friday had been suffering from cancer for almost five years. Caroline Hoy from Ahoghill died at Belfast City Hospital on Thursday night. The mother of two young children had been diagnosed with terminal cancer before she contracted swine flu. She was buried after a funeral service at Trinity Presbyterian Church in the County Antrim village on Sunday. See: 'Sadness' As Swine Flu Death Revealed

Castlewellan Row

A 19-year-old man is in a serious condition after suffering head injuries when he was attacked in a County Down town. He was one of three men injured and taken to hospital following a row at Lower Square in Castlewellan. The other two men suffered face and head injuries which were not thought to be serious. Police want anyone with information about the incident to get in touch.

Rain Floods Town

Several homes in Newtownstewart have been damaged by flooding after a day of heavy rain. A small river burst its banks and a number of homes in Mill Street in the Co Tyrone town were flooded and two cars were stuck in the middle of the road and Rivers Agency teams were working to clear the area.

Thousands Seek Tesco Jobs

Tesco has revealed that more than 1,500 people applied for 92 new jobs at the Knocknagoney store after it was expanded to become what it claims is the largest supermarket in Northern Ireland. Tesco announced plans last year to create 350 jobs across Northern Ireland. See full story on Business page: Tesco Vacancies Oversubscribed

Bank Forecasts Home Boost

Ulster Bank expects 22,500 new homes to be completed this year, up from its previous forecast of 18,500. But in its quarterly economic outlook, the bank has cut its housing output outlook for next year from 15,000 to 10,000 due to the "considerable supply overhang", saying this would be the lowest total since records began in 1970. However, the bank says it is "reasonable" to expect some recovery in housing output beyond 2010 as an annual total of 10,000 is "well below" estimates of medium-to-long term housing demand. It puts this figure at an estimated 40,000 or more past 2012.

Renewables Conference Planned

Companies across Northern Ireland have been urged to compete for their share of the multi-billion pound global sustainable industries. A free conference will be held in Belfast in October to promote renewable energy and environmental technologies, with around 500 companies expected to take part and share ideas. The Energy and Environment Conference, backed by Invest Northern Ireland, will highlight the major commercial opportunities for local companies to provide a diverse range of products and services to the sustainable and environmental industries, forecast to be worth over $500 billion by 2013.

Surgery Underway

Work has commenced on a new Fermanagh health centre. The £120,000 project will prove a new doctors' surgery to the Trillick area. Trillick GPs Dr Paul Reilly and Dr Edward Burke said they are looking forward to opening the new premises. Five new treatment rooms will be built as part of the scheme. Parking facilities at the surgery will also be increased. Dromore contractor Noel McQuaid & Sons was appointed to carry out the conversion and refurbishment works at the Enterprise Centre site.

(BMcC/KMcA/GK)