Other NI News In Brief

Taliban Victim Buried

The 13th soldier from a Co Down-based army battalion to be killed in action over the past six months in Afghanistan has been buried. Ballykinler-based Sergeant Stuart McGrath was killed when a Taliban bomb ripped through his foot patrol in Helmand Province last month. Mourners, including senior military figures, packed into St Colmcille's Church in Holywood as the coffin, draped in a Union flag with a regimental belt, hat and military medals placed on top, was carried into the Catholic church by eight pallbearers, all comrades from the 2nd battalion The Rifles.

Twinbrook Alert Slammed

Sinn Féin MLA for West Belfast, Jennifer McCann, has stated that those responsible for leaving a suspect device in Twinbrook on Friday have disrupted the entire community and need to stop these actions immediately. "In the last school year St Colm's School and Summerhill Drive had to be closed ten times due to hoax devices. This obviously affected the pupils, teachers and their education, alongside the community living in and around the school. The local community does not want this disruption and they need to stop leaving these devices in the area immediately," she said.

New Look City Hall To Rock

Four top local bands and a rising new act are preparing to rock Belfast's City Hall later this month. Tickets are still available for the special 'Take Back The City Hall' show on Saturday 17 October, featuring Oppenheimer, Mojo Fury, A Plastic Rose, The Benjamins and teenage newcomers Key Of Atlas, being hosted as part of the City Hall reopening celebrations. Doors open at 7pm and the gig, which is being recorded by BBC's 'Across The Line', finishes at 11pm. Tickets cost just £3 and are available from the Belfast Welcome Centre in Donegall Place.

Motorway Services On Route

Two motorway service areas will be built in the Irish Republic, along the M1 motorway linking Dublin to the north of the country, on in each direction on the M1 at Castlebellingham in Co Louth and Lusk in north Dublin. The third will be on the M4, linking Dublin to Enfield on the Kildare-Meath border, again with one on each side, on opposite sides of the route. Although all that represents good news, according to Department of Finance, plans to have a dozen more service areas on the five inter-urban motorways by 2011 will be delayed because of the economic situation.

Odyssey Project OK

An East Belfast Sinn Féin representative has given a cautious welcome to £100m plans to develop the Odyssey arena complex. Niall Ó Donnghaile was speaking after the Odyssey Trust filed for planning permission to build 800 residential units, two hotels and a promenade within the Titanic Quarter. "Obviously any potential stimulation to the economy is welcome in the current climate, however any development of this scale must also secure the investment and support of the surrounding, established communities," said Mr Ó Donnghaile, who noted this part of the east Belfast is seeing increased levels of economic stimulation with the development of Titanic Quarter, Sirocco Quays and now the Odyssey. However, Mr Ó Donnghaile said it is essential that surrounding communities are consulted and involved with the process every step of the way.

Derry Airport To Go Private

A realisation that the current level of public subsidy is unsustainable at City of Derry of Airport has led Derry City Council to take the first steps towards bringing private investment to the airport. However, a holding company will be set up with the council retaining 100% of the shares.

(BMcC/GK)